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THE 



MILITARY HISTORY 



1^3d Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 



EDITED BY 

C. M. KEYES, 

1st Lieutecant IJid Reg. O. V. I.j 





SANDUSKY; 

REGISTER bTEAM PRESS, SANDUSKY OHIO- 
1874. 



PREFACE 



In consenting to write the history of the organization, 
and the marches, skirmishes, battles and deeds of our 
brave old regiment, at this late date, is, I know, accept- 
ing an undertaking from which anyone might well shrink; 
and yet to preserve on record the dear old story, the 
task has been cheerfully attempted. 

It is not expected that this book will be of interest to 
the general reader; to those only who participated in, or 
followed with loving eyes, its fortunes, will the dry details, 
which must necessarily often enter into its composition, 
be interesting, and without apology to the officers and 
men, of the 123d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, this book is 
offered as a true record of their soldier life. 

C. M. KEYES, 

Sandusky, Ohio, July, 1874, 



DEDICATION. 



To the noble dead of our old battleworn regiment, wheth- 
er sleeping in unknown graves, on southern battlefields, 
or by the dark prison pens, where only the sighing pines 
may chaunt their requiem, or it may be in the quiet 
churchyards of our own bright northland, to their wid- 
ows and orphans who mourn in sorrow for their bright 
noble ones who will never more return ; to the maimed 
and crippled ones, limping throughout the land, their 
heroism saved, these pages are sacredly dedicated. 

Author. 



MILITARY HISTORY 

OF THE 

123d Regt. O. ^. I. 



ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT. CALL UNDER WHICH IT WAS 

RECRUITED. — ORGANIZATION OF EACH COMPANY 

AND BY WHOM RECRUITED. MUSTER IN 

ROLL OF EACH COMPANY, ALSO OF 
FIELD AND STAFF. 



CH^FTER I 



The 123d Regiment was organized under the second 
call for six hundred thousand troops, and was recruited 
during the months of August and September, 1862, m 
the counties of Erie, Huron, Seneca, Crawford and 
Wyandotte, and was rendezvoused at Monroe ville, 
Huron county, Ohio ; some companies arriving late in 
August, while all were in camp early in September. 
Gen. J. A. Jones was post commander, and assigned 
companies to their quarters as they arrived, saw that 
they were properly subsisted, &c. All the companies,' 



6 1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

except K, were mustered into the United States Service 
by Capt. E. W. H. Read of the 8th U. S. Infantry, on 
the 24th and 29th days of September ; company K was 
mustered in by Capt. Chas. C. Goddard of the 1 7th 
Infantry, on the i6th of October, the day we left for 
the seat of war. 

Company A. was recruited in Wyandotte county by 
Capt. J. W. ChamberUn, and was mustered into the ser- 
vice at Monroeville, Ohio, September 24, as follows: 

CAPTAIN, 

JOHN W. CHAMBERLIN. 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

VILL R. DAVIS. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

ANDREW R. INGERSON. 



SERGEANTS. 



ist. James B. Pumphrey, 4th. Joseph Roll, 
2d. William F. Bason, 5th. James H. Boroff, 

3d. Henry S. Kaley. 



CORPORALS. 



ist. StephanA. McKinzie, 5th. William S. Rifenberry, 

2d. Daniel W. Nichols, 6th. Reuben W. Smith, 

3d Edward P. Cozier, 7th. William H. Eyestone, 

4th. Nathaniel L. Robinson, 8th. Benjamin R.Reynolds. 



MUSICIANS. 

Rufus.W. Lundy, John Emerson, 



i2 3D OHIO VOLtlNTEER INFANTRY. 



TEAMSTER. 



Able S. Thompson. 



PRIVATES. 



Anderson, John S. 
Anderson, Francis M. 
Bates, Edward G. 
Baker. David 
Bear, Jacob C. 
Bower, Jarvis W. 
Burnet, Thomas C. 
Carothers, Alexander 
Clinger, Jacob 
Cole, Stephen C. 
Corwin, Abijah 
Crites, William H. 
Cross, John R. 
Davis, John 
Davis, Alexander 
Davis, George W. 
Debauch, Adam 
Demarest, David P. 
Drum, Charles B. 
Emptage, Elijah G. 
Ellis, William M. 
Ellis, John 
Ewart, Robert L 
Evestone, Fernando 
Frost, Albert 
Frost, Eli 
GiPsoN, David 
Gregg, James 
Harris, Francis M. 
Heckerthorn, Simon C. 
Heckerthorn, John O. 
Hildreth, William J. 
HoYsiNGTON, George P. 
Humbert. William K. 
Hunter, Henrv I. 
Inman, Walcom 
Inman, Daniel H. 
Ingerson, Ambrose 
Karr, Henry W. 
Kemp, Isaac W. 
Kennedy, Aaron 



Total, 



King, Henry P. 
King, Charles M. 
Leeper, Francis 
Long, Hiram 
Michaels, Isaac 
Miller, Thomas A. 
McMiller, Henry M. 
Mincer, David 
Neal, Barton O. 
Niebel, John H. 
Palmer, Henry 
Parlet, John 
Parsons, Sidney M. 
Price, Isaac 
Rickenbach, Levi 
Robinson, Franklin 
Rummell, Rineer V. 

RUMMELL, EzEKIEL 

Sears, Jedediah 
Shannon, James 
Smith, George B. 
Smith, George 
Smith. McKendree 
Stansberry, Harvey 
Suber, John 
Switzer, Jacob 
Teal, Jacob 
Terry, David D. 
Thompson, Thomas C. 
Thompson, John 
Thompson, David 
Tracy, Byal 
Van Buren, Ezra H. 
Walters, William 
Wentz, John 
Wilcox, Luther L» 
WiLKiNs, Jacob 
Wilson, Levi L. 
Wood, Sila^ 
Woodraugh, Thomas 
Zeigler, Lafayette M. 

lOI. 



S 1 2 3D OrtiO VOLUNTEER mF'AMtRV. 

Company B was recruited in Huron county by Capt. 
Horace Kellogg, with headquarters at Norwalk. The 
company was full by the 25th of August, and after re- 
maining in Norwalk for a time, went into camp at Mon- 
roeville early in September, and was mustered into the 
service on the 24th, as follows: 

CAPTAIN, 

HORACE KELLOGG. 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

JOHN F. RANDOLPH. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

CALEB D. WILLL\MS. 



SEARGENTS. 



ist. George J. Frith, 4th. Harrie E. Smith, 

2d. Eugene Smith, 5th. George A. Dark, 

3d. Benjamin F. Blair. 



CORPORALS. 



1st. Ira D. Wells, 5th. Edward L. Husted, 

2d. George Buskirk, 6th. Ezra R. Wait, 

3d. William H. Thomas, 7th. William G. Ailing, 

4th. Samuel B, Caldwell, 8th, Josiah R. Fisher. 



MUSICIANS. 

George Williams, Joseph Sallabank. 



f2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



PRIVATES, 



Armstrong, Nelson 
Barnhart, Malvern 
Blish, Albert 
Birdseye, Enoch L. 
Birch, Albert 
Benfer, John T, 
Bowen, Anson T. 
Beverstock, Edwin J. 
Barhite, William 
Bond, Stanley F. 
Bond, Orrin G. 
Castle, J eh i el 
Conger, Elijah S. 
Clai'f, Henry S. 
Cole, Irving 
Castle, Judson 
CiTMMiN(;s, William G. 
Evans, Richard 
Freund, Michael 
Fox, Reuben 
Fox, Amos 
Fox, Jordan 
Grku.s, John L. 
CjOodell, Emanuel F. 

CiODFREY, ZeRAH 

Gilbert, Andros J. 
HusTED, Elmer E. 

H(JLCOMB, RUFUS-T. 

Hatch, Palmer D. 
HoLcoMB, Benjamin 
Hoffman, Philip H. 
Hoffman, Ezra H. 
Hill, William W. 
Harrison, Ebenezer B. 
Hicks, Henry C. 
Kutcher, Louis. 
Kutcher, George. 
Keller, Leonard. 
Little, Francis. 



Lane, Solon. 
Lee, Noyes S. 
Letfs, William. 
Miller. Alfred W. 
MofjG, Uriah. 
Mann, William. 
Messeldine, Sylvanus a. 
Nye, Albert. 
Prouty, W^illiam R. 
Proutv, Emery, 
Prouty, Clinton. 
Reynolds, Charles H. 
RusHTON, Henry C. 
Roe, Charles. 
Rutherford, Louis. 
Schnebly, Bower W. 
Sparks, Riley. 
Stultz, Henry C. 
Smith, John L. 
Spangler, Henry J. 
Smith, Thompson. 
Strickfather, Edward. 
Stockmaster, Martin. 
Smith, Warren R. 
Slater, John. 
Sl.vier, George W. 
Slater, William. 
Skinner, Benjamin F. 
Tuman, Joseph. 
Taylor, Anson, H. 
Twiss, Loran. 
Woodruff, Ared. 
Wickham, Frederick C. 

WALDRt)N, SeVMOUR, 

Williams, Benjamin H, 
Williams, Edward H. 
Weiss. Victor. 
Walter, Abishai W. 
Burns, Robert W^ 



Total, 96. 



[*=] 



t2^rJ OHIO VOl.UNTEKR INFANTRY. 



Company C was recruited by Cai)t. Charles Parnlen- 
ter, in the county of Huron, commencing about the 9tli 
of August. Hie cominny was full about the 24th, and 
went into canijj at Monroeville early in September, and 
was mustered into the ser\ ice \m the J9th day of Sep- 
tember, as follows : 

CAPTAIN, 

CHARLES PARMKNTER; 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

EDGAR MARTIN ; 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

ABNER SNVDER; 



SERGEANTS, 



1st. Frank H. Breckenridge,3d. Augustine L. Smith, 
2d. John Canady, 4th. James Amadell, 

5th. Eewis White. 



CORPORALS, 



ist. Marion Lester, 5th. William H. Ramly, 

2d. Philander Miles, 6th. Norman IL Tilitson, 

3d, George A. Webster, 7th. Adison Barker, 

4th. William Odell, 8th. Simon P. Blake. 



MUSICIANS, 

Dennis Canfield, Clarke Canfield. 



TEAMSTER, 

Daniel G. West. 



I2^D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



II 



PRIVATES, 



Baker, Hiram, 
Baker, Nelson 
Blanchard, Alhert 
burnham, w. f. 
Beers, Thomas 
Carns, Romane 
Carson, William 
Carpenter, Sidney 
Carson, Jacob 
Carr, William 
Clark, Patrick 
Cole, Orrin 
CoNKLiN, Willi-. H. 
CoiT, Eureka 
Day, Wilson 
Dehow, Hugh 
Decker, Orry 
Draper, David F. 
Erecwell, Henry W. 
Erpxwell, Charles 
Fay, Martin 
Fink, Daniel 
Fish, George 
Fairchilds, J(»hn l>. 
Frye, Addison M. 
(Harrison, Harvey E. 
(iooDENouoH, Henry 

(iREEN, CRARY 

Green, Franklin 
Grannis, Thomas 
Harris, John 
Hemingway, Frederick 
Eeuts, Seymour E. 
McKee, William 
Miller. Johe W. 
Miller, John 



Moore, Wilson 
Moore, David B. 
MosiER, Nelson L. 
Nixon, Charles 
Phillips, John L. 
Phillips, Franklin 
Rhodes, Joseph H. 
Robinson, Napoleon 
Spence, James 
Salsbury, John 
Skinner, James D. 
Steel, Levi J. 
Steel, Simon 
Steel, Jacob 

SNYDIiR, JoSIAII 

Shephard, Lymav 
Shaw, William H. 
Sprinc;er, Lorin S. 
Seely, Thomas S. 
SiFLER, John 
Sly, Fernando 
Sykes, Oi'is 

TiLLOTsoN. Christopher E. 
Taylor, Cyrus 
Tow, John 
Waggoner, Wut.iam 
White, Samuei, 
Wilson, John R. 
Wait, Alberp H. 
Whitmour. Hik am 
Bascom, Alphord 
Simpson, Silas 
Lyn, Alonzo 
Murphy, John 
Loveland, Lai ayeite 
Beers, Nathan 



Total, 



91. 



Company D. was recruited in the county of Seneca^ 
by Capt. F. K. Shawhan, with headquarters at Tiffin : 



12 T23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

recruiting commenced about the 12th of August and on 
the 2 2d, the company. was full and went into camp about 
the loth of September at Monroeville, and was mus- 
tered into the service September 24, as follows: 

CAPTAIN, 

FREDERICK K. SHAWHAN. 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

H. L. McKEE. 



2D LIEUTENANT, 

lOSIAH AV. LEONARD. 



SEARGENTS 



ist. John Young, 3d. John L. Clark, 

2d. David Miller, 4th. Samuel Martin, 

5th. David S. Hall. 



CORPORALS, 

ist. Philip AVall, 5th. Hiram Root, 

2d. Thomas Parkins, 6th. Leander Coe, 

3d. Lyman Abbott, 7th. John A. Heckman, 

5th. John G. Reynolds, 8th. Amandus Betts. 



MUSICIANS, 

Elias H. Osborn, John B. Ennis. 



TEAMSTER, 

Andrew Binkley. 



li$D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



13 



PRIVATES, 



AuMAKER, Christopher 
Abbott, Irving 
Beaver, Russell B. 
Baker, John T. 
Benti.ey, TH0MA5> 
Beard, Osro R. 
Bowersox, David B. 
Boner, William L. 
Boner, Joseph A, 
Britton, Joseph B. 
Bollinger, Samuel 
BuRNsiDE, John 
Crossley, William 
Crossley, Peter A. 
Corrigan, Peter 
Conrad, Nathan B 
DiLDiNE, William H. 
Davidson, James H. 
Dunn, Arlington 
Dice. John 
Delaplane, Brown 
Fye, William 
Gambee, Seth R. 
Groff, Silas 
Hartzel, Howard F. 
Haines, Granville R. 
Hart, Francis M. 
Hartzel, James 
Harris, vSamuel A. 
Harris, David F. 
Hoover, Benjamin L. 
Hummel, Jacob 
Hock, James 
Insley, Isaac 
Kern, William J. B. 
Kenan, James 
Keller, Levi 
Kinney, Frederick M. 
Kinney, Bentley L. 



Pole, 



Kimberlin, Henry J. 
Koch, Hubert 
Keefe, Thoma^ 
LT'ZADER, E^phraim 
Leitner, Andrew J. 
Labountey, Chancy 
Leahy, James C. 
Mowen, David C. 
Mitten. William A. 
McDowEL, Andrew 
Moor, Benjamin W. 
Naugle, G. W. 
Powell, Andrew 
Pennington, Henry H. 
Roberts, Charleo C. 
Rhodes, Daniel 
Richardson, Charles 
Reeme, Daniel E. 
Reummell, Albert 
Reynolds, Henry 
Stalter, Isaac 
Sheets, Frank 
Swartz, Peter 
Ullman, Math IAS 
Vance, William 
Walsh, Michael 
Wentz, James H. 
Wheaton, Patrick S. 
Wheaton, John 
Sloan, Louis 
Smith, Daniel 
Wagoner, Frederick 
Wertz, John 
Weller, Henry 
Farner, Noah 
Snyder, William H. 
LuTz, John N. 
Reynolds, William O. 
Vanskiver, James G. 
Gabriel 



Total, 98. 



14 123D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company E was recruited in the county of Huron by 
Capt. Samuel W. Reed ; recruiting commenced about 
the 9th of August, and the company was filled about 
the I St of September, when it went into camp at 
Monroe ville, and was mustered into the service Septem- 
ber 29th, as follows : 

CAPTAIN. 

SAMUEL W. REED. 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

DWIGHT KELLOGG. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

MARTIN H. SMITH. 



SERGEANTS, 

lEt William 8. Rulison, 3d Charier H. Sowers, 
2d Martin V. Aldrich, 4th Charles Long, 

5 th James Angel. 



CORPORALS, 



1st Horace Lawrence, 5th Adophus Saliers, 

2d David H. Hutchinson, 6th James Wheaton, 

3d Tracy W. Hacket, 7th Fulton Reed, 

4th Gratton W. Reed, 8th Charles Ackley. 



MUSICIANS. 

Samuel Bratton, Isaac Blackmore. 



TEAMSTER, 

William Stone. 



i23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



^5 



PRIVATES, 



BOYD, FRANKLIN 
BURGE, WILLIAM 
BENNINGTON, JAMES 
CASSNER, JEREMIAH 
CASSNER, MOSES 
CASSNER, JOHN C. 
COATS, HFNRY 
CATLIN, HUDSON 
DUNN, LAFAYETTE 
DORN, JACOB 
DENNISON, ALEXANDER 
DENNISON, HAMILTON 
DURGIN, NICHOLAS 
DEGMAN, JOSEPH 
ENSIGN, JOHN 
FEAGLEE, JAMES M. 
FANCHER, VARNE 
FULKERT, MICHAEL H. 
GIBSON, HENRY 
GREGORY, JAMES 
GHORAM, JOHN 
HALSEY, JOHN 
HOLDEN, ISAAC 
HANKISON, ELIAS • 
HOWELL, RICHARD 
HANSERD, JOHN 
LETTS, PETER 
MEAD, DANIEL 
MOSIER, VICTOR 
MOODY, JAMES 
McQUAID, JOHN 
ODELL, ISAAC 

DUNN, 



PALMER, LUCIUS 
PEIPER, GEORGE 
REED, JAMES W. 
REED, JAMES B. 
REED, DAVID 
SHAMP, THOMAS 
SHELTZ, FARLINGTON 
SALIERS, HENRY A. 
SWEETLAND, LORENZO 
SHAFER, FREDERICK 
SNYDER, EDMOND 
SNYDER, EDWIN 
SMITH, JAMES B. 
SACKETT, LAMBERT A. 
STHA,JOHN 
SMITH, JAMES 
SALISBURY, NEWELL B. 
SEWARD, DAVID G. 
TISDALE, CHARLES 
TRIMMER, EDWIN 
THOMAS, WILLIAM 
TUCKER, GEORGE 
VANLIN, WILLIAM C. 
VOGUE, CHARLES 
VI EL, LEMUEL 
WILLIAMS, DAVID 
WILLIAMS, WILLIAM J, 
WYRICK, PERRY 
ZIMMERMAN, MATHIAS 
POINER, RALPH C. 
GARRISON, JOHN W. 
LOUDER, JOHN 
CALVIN. 



Total, 84. 



Company F was organized in Wyandotte county and 
recruited by Capt. Curtis Berry, Sen., commencing about 
the 9th of August, and completing the organization about 
the 1st of September, and immediately went into camp 



i6 1 2 3D OHIO Volunteer infantry. 

at Monroeville, and was mustered into the service Sep- 
tember 24th, as follows : 

CAPTAIN, 

CURTIS BERRY, Sen. 

I ST LIEUTENANT, 

ALONZO ROBBINS. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

JAMES H. GILLAM. 



SERGEANTS, 

I St Martin W. Willoiighby, 3d William C. White, 
2d Moses Allison, 4th Samuel Hayman, 

5th Samuel Dunn. 



CORPORALS, 

I St Alonzo W. Sawyer, 4th George G. White, 
2d John Keys, 5th Eli Smith, 

3d David Galbrath, 7th Miram M. Gipson, 

4th Benjamin F. \Villoughby,8th Theodore H. Berry 



MUSICIANS, 

Jared B. Willoughby, John H. Swinehart. 



TEAMSTER, 

John Gephart. 



PRIVATES, 

BLOXD, FREDERICK LOWMASTER, HEXRY 

BULUN, RUBEX LOTT, PETER J. 

BLOND, LEWIS MELLON, JACOB 

BRISBINE, NAPOLEON B. MORRIS, WILLIAM 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 17 



BARCLAY, J0H:N^ S. McCONNELL, ROBERT X. 

BOWSHER, NELSOX MILLER. JOHX H. 

BO WASHER, DAVrn McLANE. MELANCTHOX 

BOLYARD, CHARLES McLANE. ARCH Y H. 

CATHRBmT, IRVIX H. MASKY^ .fOSlOPH 

CATHRIOHT, RICHARD MfTCHELL, WILLIAM 

CO PL E R, CH R I ST I A N M I LTO N . J A M ES L. 

CRAIC, ROBERT P.. McBRIDE, ARTHUR L. 

C L A K K , T H O MAS M c FA R L A N 1 ) , N E LS X 

COOK, STEPHEX MILiXER, ADAM 

COWCILL. xNLOLSOX McLANE, DAVID 

CORFMAN, LEWLS MASKY, ELI 

COOK. .lOSHUA McJENKINS. E. W. 

CHAMBERS, NICHOLAS MACKEY", JOHN 

D ( N N , EM K R L. NO RTON . .K) HN G. 

1 )0 1 (i U E RT Y , D A VI I) W. NO LL, L E VI 

DRY, JOSHUA 1*. OLTEATTEIi, PETER 

EWAHT, ROBER'i' J. OLIVEU, CHARLES E. M. 

FERRIS, RANDOLPH B. OLl VER, .) AMES B. 

FLSHER, WILLIAM H. OBERLIN, NORIS P. H. 

GIPSON, WILLIAM A. PERRIN. HENRY 

GIBSON, JOEL W. Rl MMELL. BENSOX C. 

HOUGB, HENRY SNYDER, EZRA 

HALL, DAVID SMITH, JEREMIAH A. 

HEFFLE BOWER, V\^M. II. SMITH. AARON B. 

H E N L Y , S A M IJ E L ST A LT E R , J) A \ I D 

HESSER, ALPHONSO D. SEAGER. GEORGE 

HOLLY. EDWARD P. SIMMONS, HENRY L 

HUFFMAN, SIM LON SNYDER, JOHN 

HEFFLEBOWER, JACOB A. SCOOT. ORANGE J. 

HUFFORD, GEORGE W. VanDORN. ISAAC 

HAYMAN. JACOB WOODLING, LEY I 

HARICK, JAMES WILLOUGHBY, WM. R. 

IRWIN, KOBEKT WILLIAMS, JOSEPH 

KIEHL, CYRUS H. WASHHURX. CORNELIUS 

KRIECHBAUM, BENJAMIN WHINERY, JOSEPH 

LEE, LAFAYETTE MILLER, JACOB H. 
YOUNG, NATHAN D. 



Total, 102. 



Company G was recruited in Erie county by Capt. 
Charles H. Riggs, with headquarters at Sandusky ; the 
majority of the company were from Sandusky city, and 



1 8 1230 OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

the townships adjoining, all parts of the county, however, 
contributing to its membership. 

The company Avas organized under some difficulties, 
as a company for tlu loist regiment had just been raised 
in the same locality. Many of the men composing this 
company, had already seen service in company E, 
Sth Ohio, during the first three months of the war. Re- 
cruiting commenced August Sth, and on the 2 2(1 of the 
same month the company was full, and soon after went 
into camp at Monroeville, and was mustered into the 
service 8eptemper 2 ;th, as follows: 

CAPTAIN, 

CHARLES H. RIGGS. 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

OSWALD H. ROSENBAUM. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

FRANK B. COLVER. 



SE ARGENTS. 

I St Sherman A. Johnson, 3d Wesley B. Jennings, 
2d George A. IScoby, 4th Charles M. Keyes, 

5th Martin L. Skillman. 



CORPORALS. 

ist Miron E. Clemens, 5th Jacob Wentz, 

2d John Steele, 6th William Gillard, 

3d Augustus Garrett, 7th William H. Metcalf, 

4th Frank W. Canfield, Sth William H. Lovering. 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



19 



William Jennings, 



MUSICIANS. 

William Allen. 



tf:amster. 
George K. McConelly 



privates. 



B( YER. LEWIS 
15H0\VN, SOLOMOX 
BRIJMM, CHAKEES 
BUYEK. XAFOLEOX 
BAKNAKI), E( THEK 
BARNAKD. HEXRY C. 

BONN, georc;e H. 

BUG ART, JAY 
BTCK. ALBERT 1). 
BLRXS. JAMES 
BLOSIER, HENRY 
CLARK, MICHAEL 
CLAVIN, JOHN 
CROSS. JAMES 
CHAM BERLIN. WM. H. 
CONGER, CORN ELI rs 1). 
DRAKE, BENJAMIN 
DRAKE, GEORGE B. 
DETLEFS, JACOB 
DIPPEL, MARTIN 
DEELY, BENJAMIN E. 
FOSTLR, EDWARD 
FILMORE, CONRAD 
GROFF, JOSEPH 
GROFF, JOSEPH H. 
GREEN HOE, GEOR(JE ^V. 
OILLEX, CHARLES W. 
GOLDEN, WILLAM 
GOLDEN. GEORGE, Jr. 
HEADLEY, BRY^AXT C. 
HEGEXEY. CHARLES 
HARPER, JOHX 
HOYT, JAMES 
HOYT, WILLIAM 
HOWE, RICHARD 
HAMMOND. CHARLES 



LUCE, LYMAX 
LOCK LEY, ALBERT 
LALGHLIX, PATRICK 
LA FERE, ,/OHX" 
LEWIS. AX DREW J 
LITTLEFIELD. FRAXK 
McELWAIX, JAMES P. 
MORGAN, WILLIAM 
McGOOKEY, BARNEY 
MARTIX. RICHARD 
XEIL. FOSTER 
XEIL. THOMAS 
OCKS, THEODORE 
OTT. AliBERT ' 
OEHM, WILLIAM 
RAAB, AUGUST 
RHODE, CONRAD 
RANSOM. DELOS C. 
REED, WILLIAM 
REED, JAMES 
STOWE. SAMUEL E. 
ST R A C S E R, A N DR E W 
SRUTHEY, ALBERT 
SAVENACK, JOHN R. 
SHERER, PETER 
STOCKLEY. GEORGE 
SHESLEY, GEORGE 
THOM PSON . BENJAMIN 
TUCKER, FRED 
VAXTIXE, ALFRED C. 
WARREN, GEORGE G. 
WALKER, ALBERT 
W H E ELER, WI LLI A M P. 
KRISS, SOLOMOX 
STAHL, WILLIAM 
WEBER, GEORGE 



20 1^3^ <^^"^ VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

HIXES, JOHX McGOOKEY, JOHX 

HIXES, (JEOKGE TIMMAXUS, RICH A til) H. 

JOHXSON, HEXRY I). PERSOXS, THOMAS 

KXIGHT, CHARLES G. WAGER, MLLO H. 

KETES, THOMAS J. KELLY, \riLLIAM 



Total, loi. 



Company H was organized in Crawford county by 
Capt. John Newman of Crestline. Recruiting began 
August i4tb, and by August 2 2d the company was full. 
The company went into camj) early in September at 
Monroeville, and was mustereil into the service Septem- 
24th, as follows : 

CAPTAIN, 

JOHN NEWMAN. 

1ST LIEU r EN ANT, 

DAVID S. CALDWELL. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

HARVEY S. BEVINGTON. 



SERGEANTS. 



1st William A. Williams, 3d Barnwell B. Clark, 
2d Franklin Humphrey, 4th John D. Mathers, 
5th John O. Davis. 



CORPORALS. 



1st George W. Wickham, 5th Robert Burke, 

2d John Sno.lgrass, 6th MeJary Clements, 

3d David S. Robinson, 7th John H. Palezell, 

4th Henry Cassell, 8th Frederick Staley. 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

Adam Tustisan, 



21 



MUSICIANS. 

James McDonald. 



TEAMSTER, 

Eli Owiler. 



PRIVATES, 



AMBROSIER, BAXIEL 

AMBRUSTER, C. 

ARNOLD, RICHARD 

ANDREWS, JOHN 

BETZ, JOHX 

BETZ. JOSIAH 

BLACKFORD. SHANNON^ 

BETZ, DAVID 

BECK, WILLIAM 

BOARDXER, HUGH 
BRISTLE, JAMES 
BRISTLE, JOHN H. 
BURKETT, THOMAS 
BENNEHOFF, JOHN 
BOARDNER, SAMUEL 
CARRICK. AARON 
COOK, WILLAM 
DUN LAB, JOSEPH 
DURR, JOHN 
DORISH, LORENZO 
DEVINE, E. 
FURCHT, CHRISTIA:^ 
FRALIE. GEORGE W. 
FOY, LEWIS 
FRYER, LAFAYETTE 
GUNDRUM, JOSHUA 
GOWING, CHARLES S. 
HECK ART, ELI 
HURST. ELI 
HENRY, ABRAHAM 
HOUK. MICHAEL 
HARTSLINE, JACOB 
HUMPHREY, JAMES 
HASS, CONRAD 
JHOTELLING, CHARLES 



KAYLOR. JOSEPH H. 
CRIECHBAUM. ADAM 
KEPLINGGR, EMAXUEL 
LYNCH. liARRY 
LONGWEUL. AS BURY 
MYERS, WILLIAM 
MORRISON, GEORGE B. 
MYERS, JOHN C. 
MERRICK, GEORGE 
MADDERWELL, JAMES Q. 
NEWMAN, JACOB 
OGDEN, LOPtlN- 
PACKBl', DAVID R. 
PRICE, JOSEPH 
PARK. ABRAHAM 
PORTER. JOHN 
RITTENOUR, JOSEPH 
RICHARDS. HOSEA 
RANCK, JACOB 
RANCK. LEVI C. 
ROBERTS, DANIEL 
SNODGR ASS, DAVID 
SOLLINGER, SAMUEL 
SHAFFER, GEORGE 
SHAFFElv, JOHN 
SWISHER, SAMUEL R. 
SNYDER. JOHN C. 
STALEY, THOMAS P. 
ST ALE Y. JOSIAH 
STRIKER, WILLIAM 
UHL, GEORGE W. 
VALLENTINE, GEORGE 
YALLENTINE, CHARLES 
YanGUNDEY, THOMAS J. 
WALKEK, THOMAS G. 



2 2 1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

HOLLINGSHE AD. JESSE WALTER, JOHN 

HAMLIN, JOHX ZELLNER. EDWIN 

HOLEMAX, PETER 8ECKLER, DAVID 

HARRIGER. CHARLES CULVER. JAMES 

KELLER. GEORGE CREPPEN. JOHN 

KOONS. BENJAMIN F. FOY. WILLIAM L. 



Total, loi. 

.-♦_. 

Company I was organized in Seneca county by Capt. 
Richard A. Kirkwood of Fostoria. Recruiting began 
August 1 8th, and by August 2 2d the company was ready 
to go into camp, which was done early in September, 
and was mustered into the service at Monroe ville on the 
24th of the same month, as follows : 

CAPTAIN, 

RICHARD A. KIRKWOOD. 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

WILLIAM H. BENDER. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

JOSEPHUS F. SCHUYLER. 



SERGEANTS, " 

I St George D. Acker, 3d Joseph P. Myers, 

2d John VVickand, 4th William Bartholomew, 

5 th William S. Moses. 



CORPORALS, 

ist James H. McDuell, 4th David Albert, 

2d Moses Bennell, 5th Jacob J. Bowman, 

3d Abraham W. Brinkley, 6th Martin Adams, 
7th John W. Carpenter. 



MUSICIANS, 

Alexander G. Franklin, Henry A. Dildine. 



TEAMSTER, 

William Whittaker. 



PRIVATES, 



ALBERT, JOHX Q. 
ALLEY, ADOiXmAM 
ADAMS. GEORGE W. 
BARDET, WILLIAM J. 
BRACKLSEN, GEORGE 
BOYER, JOSIAH 
BOWMAN, .JOHN 
BOWMAN, WALTER P. 
B^CKENSTOS, WILLIAM 
BOCKY, FRANKLIN 
CHILCOAT, JOSEPHS. , 
GALA HAN, WILLIAM 
CARLISLE, THEODORE G. 
CHAFFIN, JAMES I. 
COPP, JOHN J. 
CLINE. ALFRED 
CARPENTER, SAMUEL B. 
DALE. SAMUEL 
DEARY. WILLIAM 
DITTO, JACOB 
DOE. CHANCY A. 
ELLIOTT, AUGUSTUS 
EBERSOLE, HENRY 
EBRIGHT, JACOB 
FOX, JACOB J. 
FREESE. WILLIAM M. 
FOX. WILLIAM H. 
FINK, JOHN F. 
FINK, ISAAC 
GEAR, JOSEPH 
HENRY, NATHAN 
HELLER, MOSES 
HILLIS, JAMES 
HILLIS, JOHN 
HILLIS, DAVID 
HUFFMAN, ANDREW W. 



HUFFMAN, JOSEPH 
HENRY, WILLIAM B. 
JOHNSON, JOSEPH C. 
LILLBY, JAMES 
LANEY. OWEN" H. 
MARVIN. TII<)\IAS H. 
MYRES, .lOHN H. 
McKEE. THOMAS 
MAY, JAMES \V. 
McEWEN, SAMUEL 
MALONV, THOMAS H. 
McKIBBON^ WRIGHT 
MACHINER, MARTIN W. 
MACHINER, ELY 
PAINTER. MICHAEL 
ROLLEJ^, MICHAEL 
ROSSITEU, Vi ILLIAM 
RICE,J<»HN H. 
ROGERS, JOHN W. 
SEAVOLT, ISAAC 
SHAFER, JOLEY B. 
SPENCER. JOHN 
SHEELY, WILLIAM 
SNYDER. ELI 
SHELLER, JOHN J. 
SIDELL. JOSEPH 
THOMPSON. DAVID 
TODD, MICHAEL 
UPDYK E.JOHN 
VERT, JOHN 
WILLIS. IRA 
YOUNG. JOHxY 
CARSON. SAMUEL S. 
CORY, H. M. 
McCLINLOCK, THOMAS 
ENGLISH, JAMES W. 



SPENCER, JAMES 



Total, 91. 



24 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company K was recruitei mjstly in the counties of 
Erie and Seneca. It was the last company recruited, 
and some difficulty was encountered in completing its 
organization. The company was recruited by Capt. 
Lewis Zimmer of Tiffin, and was mustered into the ser- 
vice at Monroe ville, October i6th, as follows : 

CAPTAIN, 

LEWIS ZIMMER. 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

RANDOLPH B. FERRIS. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

JOHN THOM. 

SERGEANTS, 



2St James Healey, 3d George A. Murphey, 

2d Samuel D. Poppleton, 4th Joseph Goodsel, 
5 th Clement Snyder. 



CORPORALS, 

I St Ignatius Boff, 5 th John Conners, 

2d William Fry, 6th David Shaul, 

3d 'I'homas Robinson, 7th Thomas Morgan, 

4th Jacob Wolf, 8th Leonard Kissner. 



MUSICIAN, 

John S. Smith. 



TEAMSTER, 

Dietrich D. Osterholz. 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



25 



PRIVATES, 



AMES. PAVID S. 
AUSTIN. HENRY 
BAKER. JOHXT. 
BOYCE, THOMAS W. 
BEELER, AVrLLlAM 
LUCIUS/NICHOLAS 
BRITT, FRANK 
BUSSINGBR. JOHN 
BROWN, ALBERTUSD. 
BANG, CHARLES 
BRUNO, BERNHARD 
BEAYER, SOLOMEN 
BLECKLEY, ANDREW 
CROHAN, JAMES 
COSTELOE, WILLIAM 
CAUL, JAMES 
CONELLY, PATRICK 
COGHLIN, EDWARD 
ENNIS, JOHN B. 
DUNNAHOE, ANDREW 
DUFFY, JAMES 
DONELLY, ARTHUR 
ELDER, GEORGE D. 
FOWLER, ALONZO 
ELLIS, WILLAM 
GASE, MATHEW J. 
GRANT. JOHN 
GANGWER. STEPHEN 
GRUMMELL, FRDERICK 
HAMMOND, SIMON 
HIGGIXS. FRANCIS 
HASTINGS. JOHN 
HYDE. MICHAEL 
HENNESSY. PATRICK 
GRUMMELL, HENRY 

HUN 



LONG. JOHN 
LEY. JACOB 
H13NRY, JOHN L 
MgKEE, RICHARD 
Mc.GRADY, DANIEL 
MONTE, WILLIAM 
MARVIN. GEORGE R. 
MEENS. JAMES 
HAAS. JACOB 
NUTTER, ISAAC 
I RVIJ^G, THOMAS 
O'NEILL EDWARD 
POLE, GABRIEL 
PEARL, PETER 
ROCK. ANTON 
RHONE, ALBERT W. 
ROBINSON, JOHN 
RAG AN. ANDREW L. 
STRAUB. WILLIAM 
SCHNEIDER, MICHAEL 
SHAUL, JOSHUA 
SCHMIDT, BRUNO 
SWITZER, JACOB 
SPITTLE, BENJAMIN 
SIMMONS, CLINTON 
SPICE. JACOB 
S \ YEN ACK, EDWARD 
THOM, PETER 
THOM, MICHAEL 
THOMPSON, JAMES 
UTLEY, HIRAM 
WILCOX, PETER 
WAESSNER. GEORGE 
YOUNG, CHRISTOHER 
ZENT. LEONARD 
TLEY, OZIAS 



Total, 89. 



The foregoing rosters are correct copies of the original 
Muster-In-Rolls of the various companies. 

As a matter of course they do not show the recruits 



26 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

who came to the regiment in 1863 and 1864. Their 
names, however, will appear in the chapter devoted to 
the *' muster-out." Nearly two hundred recruits came 
to the regiment to fill its depleted ranks, and many of 
them were the very best of soldiers. 

The following is a copy of the original Muster-In-Roll 
of the 

I^Meld and Staff. 



COLONEL, 

WILLIAM T. WILSON. 

LIEUTENANT COLONEL. 

HENRY B. HUNTER. 

MAJOR, 

A. BALDWIN NORTON. 

SURGEON, 

ORRIN FERRIS. 

ASSISTANT SURGEONS, 

J. H. WILLIAMS, 
W. B. HYATT. 

QUARTER MASTER. 

EDWIN H. BROWN. 

CHAPLAIN. 

CHARLES G. FERRIS. 



Only three of whom. Col. W. T. Wilson, Assistant 
Surgeon W. B. Hyatt and Quarter Master Edwin H. 



I25D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 27 

Brown, served through with the regiment until the close 
of the war. Major A. B. Norton resigned his commis- 
sion soon after the regiment went to the field Assist- 
ant Surgeon J. H. Williams resigned during the Summer 
of 1863. 

Lieutenant Colonel Henry B. Hunter served in the 
Valley Campaign of 1863, was captured at .Winchester 
June 15th, remained in prison about ten months, which 
so broke down his health that soon after he was exchang- 
ed, not being fit for duty in the field, he tendered his 
resignation , and was mustered out of the service. Surgeon 
Orrin Ferris served with the regiment until the close of 
the campaign of 1864, when, with shattered constitution, 
and sadly impared health, much against his own incli- 
nation and the wishes of the entire regiment, his resig- 
nation was tendered and accepted. 



IS on Commissioned Staff. 



SERGEANT MAJOR, 

BENJAMIN F. BLAIR. 

QUARTER MASTER SERGEANT, 

ELMER E. HUSTED. 

COMMISSARY SERGEANT, 

FREDERICK C. WICKHAM. 



28 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

HOSPITAL STEWART, 

N. B. BRISBINE. 

DRUM MAJOR, 

WESLEY HOLMES. 

PRINCIPAL MUSICIAN. 

EDWIN P. COZIER. 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 29 



C H A. P» ' i E R II. 



CAMP LIFE AT MONROEVILLE — REMOVAL TO THE SEAT OF 
WAR MARCHES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE REG- 
IMENT UP TO JUNE I2TH, 1863. 

Our life here was one continued round of excitement, 
and all were glad when the order came, (October i6, ) for 
the regiment to move. A large number of friends were 
there to say good bye, and amid the tears and the God 
bless you of the multitude, we started for untried scenes 
in the great war of the rebellion. 

Not, perhaps, in the course of the whole war, did Ohio 
send to the field a regiment of men whose whole sou!^ 
were in the cause so firmly, and whose fliith in the pert 
petuation of this glorious government of ours, was so 
pure, as the gallant One Hundred and Twenty-third. With 
officers, both in the field and line, who were not only 
brave and competent, but gentlemen on all occasions ; 
with men whose efficiency and bravery, yet untested, but 
afterward so sorely tried, and never found lacking, it was 
no wonder that in the years that followed, the regiment 
was often selected to perform duties requiring both cour- 
age and discipline, secresy and dispatch. 



3© I 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

To Zanesville by rail, and then down the Muskingum 
river, on transports to Parkersburg, stopping at several 
places on the river, some of which, and McConnelsville 
in particular, no doubt remembered our visit for some 
time. 

On the 19th, we left on board of box cars, in two 
trains, for Clarksburg, on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 
road. On the way a man belonging to Company H was 
severely injured, and just after having passed through a 
tunnel, the rear train ran into the one just ahead of it. 
Three cars were thrown from the track, and down an 
embankment, yet strange to say, none were very seri- 
ously injiu'ed, though all were pretty severely shook up. 
The engineer and conductor were strongly threatened by 
the boys, who believed them rebels at heart, and that the 
accident was a put-up affair. However, matters were at 
length quieted, and soon we were on our way for Clarks- 
burg, where we arrived on the 20th, and went into 
camp. Here we received Sibley tents, five to a com- 
pany, and two wall tents for the officers of each compa- 
ny. We thought them anything but extra residences, 
but before the war was over a new "dog tent" was 
counted a palace. Nothing of interest occured here, 
and on the 27th none were sorry when we received orders 
to break camp and proceed to Buckhannon, distance 27 
miles. This, our first day's march, was through the 
worst mud we ever saw, and over a road which only a 
Western Virginian can appreciate. Afterward we laughed 



f 

I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 3 1 

about this march, and would have considered it a little 
pleasure jaunt, but at that time, to us, those eleven miles 
seemed a hundred. We reached Buckhannon on the morn- 
ing of the 29th, and remained there in camp — resting — 
until November 2d, when away we went toward Beverly, 
thirty-one miles distant. The first night out we camped 
at the Middle Fork of Tygart Valley river, eleven miles 
from our start of the morning. On the bridge that 
spans the creek at this point we found cut in the wood the 
familiar names of friends in Company E, 8th Ohio, who 
had gone this way before us. 

It was here the boys of Company G cared so well for 
the teamster of a runaway team, with the wagon of the 
medical purveyor, laden with wines and whisky, and at 
the same time captured all the bottles with corks out, or 
that could be pulled out. However, in the morning not 
a vestage of a cork or bottle could be found about Com- 
pany G's quarters. 

The next day we marched eighteen miles, reaching 
Beverly. On the way we passed the Rich Mountain bat- 
tle ground, the engagement at this place, near a year 
previous, having been so called up to that time, but tlie 
big events that followed soon after our visit, caused it to 
take rank as a skirmish only. It will be remembered 
that it was here that the 87th Pennsylvania attempted to 
force the guard, and thus roam through the village at 
will ; but finding that two batteries were rapidly wheeled 
into position, and the balance of the brigade ready to 



32 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

fire on them, finally carried off their two comrades whom 
the guard had shot down for attem})ting to pass, and sul- 
lenly retired to their camp. We remained here ''resting 
up" until the 7th, marching that day to Huttonville, 
eleven miles distant, and sure enough, it was a village of 
Huts, and of a very few huts at that. We had a rather 
cold rainy time of it here, and a good many of the bo)s 
were taken sick and sent back to Beverly. 

While lying at Huttonville, Lieutenant Randolph, of 
Company I>, was sent out forty miles to call in a com- 
mand that was on the road towards Staunton. Procur- 
ing a good horse, he started alone, armed only with a 
sabre and revolver, and carried the order through the 
enemy's country and returned safely to his command. 
We were all glad to see him back, for it was an undertak- 
ing fraught with dangers at every turn — besirles, if taken 
prisoner, the chances of being treated as a spy stared 
him in the face. 

We remained here until November 15th, when we re- 
turned to Beverly, and encamped for the night on a level 
plat of ground just east of the town. 

Not soon will Mrs. Arnold, a Union lady, although 
the only sister of Stonewall Jackson, and residing at this 
place, be forgotten by the men of the 123d Regiment. 
Taking as many of our sick as she possibly could into her 
own house, she nursed them through their sickness as 
only a loving mother could — two of them she nursed 
through a long attack of typhoid fever, and that, too, 



12 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 33 

after the surgeon in charge had pronounced them hope- 
less, and to her loving care and watchful tenderness do 
these two boys yet live, owing her their lives. 

We received company wagons here, and on the i6th, 
started for Webster, fifty-four miles distant, arriving there 
on the iSth. On the route we passed over Laurel Hill, 
where many a root was dug for the pii)e, with which to 
cheer our lonely hours, and passed the scene of the battle 
of Phillippi, one of the most considerable fights of West 
Virginia. The grand scenery along the route of this 
entire march made the trip worth the taking, for that, if 
nothing more, and surely none of us could see for what 
other purpose our journeyings of the past two weeks 
could possil)ly be, unless it was as the boys invariably 
would answer, •' military strategy, my boy," though the 
wisdom of this sort of thing we learned soon to distrust. 
From Webster we took the cars for New Creek, arriving 
there on the 19th. On the 2 2d we had our first grand re- 
view l)y General Rol)t. Milroy, accompanied by General 
Cluseret, who has since figured conspicuously in the late 
French war. We remained at New Creek until Decem- 
ber 1 2th, and during which time, besides being vaccinated 
pretty thoroughly, were brigaded and rebrigaded a num- 
ber of times, finally forming a part of Col. Washburn's 
brigade, with which command we moved out to Burling- 
ton, thirteen miles distant, and remained there awaiting 
orders. 

Up to this time, we had scarcely realized that we were 
[*4] 



34 t23^ OW^^^ VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

in reality men of war — true, we liad made some hard 
marches, and camped out in the snow and rain, after 
plodding along all day through slush and mud ; but as 
yet we had not met the sterner realities belonging and 
ncidental to a soldier's life ; it seemed more like a pic- 
nic excursion, without any definite object or end ; later 
we gave more thought to the situation, and stwdy to the 
chances of war. 

On the morning of the 17th we again broke camp, 
and on tlie afternoon of the i8th arrived at Petersburg, 
a small hamlet forty-two miles from New Creek. We, 
in a general way, now understood that a force of rebels 
were near, and great caution was observed on the picket 
line, and very little wandering from camp was indulged 
in by the men. And to see how alert the camp 
was, on the afternoon of the 19th the long roll was 
sounded, our regiment getting into line in six minutes. 
That night we slept upon our arms for the first time, at a 
later day a very ordinary occurrence. On the 28th, the 
ii6th O. V. I., and one section of the ist Virginia bat- 
tery left for Moorefield, about eleven miles distant, and 
took possession of the town. We remained here until 
January 3d. At nine o'clock in the morning, orders 
were received to break camp at once ; tents were struck, 
wagons loaded, and started for New Creek, and by quar- 
ter past ten we were on the way to Moorefield. Soon af- 
ter starting, the firing of cannon was heard, satisfying us 
that there was business ahead. Never did the regiment 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 35 

march better ; those eleven miles were passed over in 
two hours and ten minutes. Reaching the river bank, 
Co. A. was sent down the left bank of the river, and Cos. 
B and G were ordered across to feel of the enemy, who 
had surrounded the ii6th on a hill near the town. Shots 
from a rebel battery on the hill beyond soon sent them 
back to the river bank, where they haii orders to remain 
and await the return of scouts, who had been sent out 
to reach the camp of the 1 1 6th, if possible. All this 
time a continued firing was kept up from a section of our 
artillery, which must have done good execution, for the 
enemy did not long reply. Before night we joined the 
1 1 6th, the rebels having withdrawn their forces. 

The morning was very bright and pleasant, but l)y 
night the winds swept cold and bleak down the valley, 
and we passed about as disagreeable a night as at any 
time during the war, for it will be remembered that our 
wagon train was sent back to New Creek with all our 
cooking utensils, provision and much of our heavier 
clothing; and though the ii6th Ohio did all they could 
for our comfort, still our condition was anything but 
comfortable. 

On the 4th, a brigade came up under command of 
General Mulligan, who now assumed command of all the 
troops. The night again set in cold and blustering, and 
as none of us had blankets, a cool prospect was in view. 
Skirmishing began early for a bundle of hay or straw for 
covering, and all prepared to make the best of the situ- 



36 

ation. Two smart chaps from Co. G crawled into a 
wagon box, with their Httle bundle of hay to pass the 
night, and were soon in the land of dreams, but their 
comfort was of short duration, for a stray mule, wander- 
ing that way, proceeded to help himself from their cov- 
ering, and did not desist so long as a straw remained. 
The increas:2d cold soon waked the boys up, and after 
expressing their feelings in a very forcible manner, sought 
other quarters in which to pass the remainder of the 
night. 

At half pist one, on the morning of January 6th, live 
companies of the 123d, and five companies of the 11 6th, 
with Mulligan's Brigade, started out to attack a camp of 
Rebels, distant nine miles, but after marching to near 
the point designated, found that they had left in a great 
hurry for a more southern clime; returning to camp, 
we arrived there at 3 o'clock A. M., having marched 
eighteen miles — a long walk before breakfast. It was 
on this march tliat Gen. Mulligan compelled the men to 
throw down captured chickens and turkeys, which other- 
wise would have made many a good breakfast on our 
arrival in camp it is needless to say, that this sort of fool- 
ing was not indulged in to any extent in later years. 
It was on this occasion, that the incident happened, which 
Col. Wilson is so fond of relating, and which always 
provokes a hearty laugh from listeners, especially those 
who remember old Capt. Newman, of Company H., 
who when asked how he came to set such an example 



12 2T) OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



37 



before his men, as to capture a turkey, with the evident 
intention of taking it into camp, remarked that the 
'' Tam durkey coom'd a runnin out of the gate mit his 
mouth vide open, and Colonel, you don't tink I is goin 
to let a tam durkey bite me? no sir! As a matter of 
course a reprimand was not administered. The next 
day a part of the Regiment went out foraging for 
grain; and in the afternoon, fireing being heard in the 
direction taken by them, reinforcements were sent out to 
their assistance; but they soon met the boys coming in 
all right, with their wagons loaded principally with 
grain; but chickens, potatoes, onions, &c., entered 
largely into the cargo, and a pretty good supper was the 
the result. 

It will be remembered that one night while here, our 
regiment was quartered in the Court House, whereupon 
some good citizens, loyal to the Southern cause, went to 
Gen. Mulligan and asked that the desecration be no 
longer allowed ; orders were immediately issued that we 
should vacate at once, which of course we did, but in 
no very amiable mood ; for the ground was covered with 
snow, and as yet we had not received our blankets. The 
matting however that the aisles were carpeted with, was 
all cut into strips and carried with us, and used for bed- 
ding as long as we remained there. 

On the 9th of January we received orders to march to 
Romney, but delayed starting until the next day, camp- 
ing at night eighteen miles from Moorefield, passing the 



3$ I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

dwelling house of the guerilla chief, Cipt. McNiel, and 
for the first time, at least many of us, saw regular 
Southern Slave quarters. The next day at 3 o'clock in 
the afternoon we arrived in Romney, which we found in 
a very dilapidated condition. 

It soon became apparent that we were to remain here 
all winter, and all tried to fix up in as comfortable 
shape as possible, but a more cheerless spot to spend the 
Avinter in could hardly have been selected, as the winds 
had a fair sweep in three different directions, and as a 
general thing improved the opportunity in one direction 
or the other, much to our discomfort and disgust. Our 
life here was one continual round of picket duty or for- 
aging. Very seldom did anything occur to break the 
usual monotony. However on the T6th of February five 
teams from our regiment and fourteeen from the 11 6th 
Ohio Regmient, under escort of Company F., ii6th, 
Capt. Brown commanding, went towards Moorefteld, for- 
aging for hay, and on their return, when within about 
six miles of Romney, were captured by the guerilla, 
Capt. McNiel, with twenty-six men, owing to the bad 
management of Capt. Brown, who allowed his men to 
straggle all over the country, so that not more than three 
or four of them were together at any one time, which 
made their capture a very easy matter. 

Capt. Brown was subsequently court martialed, and 
found guilty of basely deserting his command in the 
face of the enemy. Our men were well treated by Capt. 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 39 

McNiel, who gave them money to buy their dinner, and 
taking their parole, sent them back to camp. The next 
morning Col. Washburn, of ii6 O. V. I., commanding 
Brigade, called upon the 123d for a company to go out 
to the scene of the capture and bring in anything they 
might find. Capt. Horace Kellogg's Company was soon 
in readiness and on the move. They found five wagons 
all sound, but the others were all burned, nothing but 
the irons and a heap of ashes left where each wagun 
had stood. The company returned to camp without 
accident, with the exception of accidentally shooting 
several of the domestic feathered family, which carelessly 
strayed across the road. Our regiment was now encamp- 
ed upon the ground occupied by the 55th O. V. I. while 
encamped here one year previous. The boys planted 
evergreens along their company streets and about com- 
pany headquarters, making our camp look very pleasant 
and homelike. While lying here company officers were 
ordered before a military board of examiners to test 
their military tactics, drill, &c. There was considerable 
uneasiness manifested by some, but as it appeared after- 
Avards, without cause, for the boartl, for some unknown 
reason never convened, and thus the troublesome ordeal 
never was passed, though several of our officers con- 
cluded that they had experienced about all the soldiering 
they cared for and tendered their resignations which 
were accepted, and some promotions were made as the 
necessary result. We had very little opportimity for 



40 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

drill, as it was usually very muddy, and so the winter wore 
monotonously away, relieved now and then by the re- 
ceiving of boxes from our friends at home, and, though 
we did not m iterially need their contents, still this evi- 
dence that we were w^armly remembered by the dear 
ones at home, gave us renewed zeal in the work we had 
so cheerfully volunteered to do. Some of our officers' 
wives visited us while here, and though many of us did 
not even know them, their cheerful smiles and kind 
words warmed the hearts of many a homesick boy, and 
created within our breasts a firm determination to do 
all that lay in our power to preserve inviolate the homes 
of the noble women whom we had left l)ehind. 

Never shall be forgotten with what avidity we devoured 
the contents of our letters from home, and how sorrow- 
ingly we would turn away when the unwelcome intelli- 
gence was announced, "no letters to-day." This anxiety 
for news from home may seem a little strange, but when 
it is remembered that many of the boys were away 
from home for the first time and with no very certain 
hope of ever again returning, it is not to be wonderd at. 

We were all ready for the order to move when it 
came, March 14th, 1863, for we were thoroughly tired 
of lying here doing nothing, and all were anxious to 
engage in the real business of war. On the morning of 
the 15th we started towards Winchester and marched 
twenty one miles, encamping just east of Blue Gap. 
While passing through the Gap a terrific thunder storm 



I 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 4I 

burst upon us, the rain falling in perfect sheets, drench- 
ing us to the skin. It was certainly a wild and beautifuy 
sight, the mountains rising on either side to a consider- 
able heighth, the lightening flashing, as it appeared, from 
crag to crag, the thunder re verlje rating down the sides 
of clifts, caused a feeling of awe to creep over every 
heart ; but the sun soon burst out in all its splendor, and 
dispelled the gloom as with a magicians wand. It was 
here we received the order that only the top rail of the 
fences should be taken for fire wood; of course the 
order was construed that we shouldn't take the l)ottom 
one, and was therefore strictly carried out. We en- 
camped near a meadow and the stacks of hay still stand- 
ing in the field were chiefly converted into fodder for the 
horses, and bedding for the boys. Very soon the camp- 
kettles were steaming and supper prepared, after which 
all lay down and enjoyed a refreshing sleep, such as 
those only can appreciate who have been similarly situ- 
ated. The next day we were on the march bright and 
early, encamping at night at Hayfield Church, fourteen 
miles from the start of the morning, on the finest ground 
we had yet occupied as a camp, and near several springs 
of clear, cold water. We arrived in Winchester the 
next day, March 1 7th, and went into camp on the hill 
near the old fort, where we remained for several days, 
finally changing to a park near the Rebel burying 
ground, a splendid camping ground, which the boys 
fully appreciated. 



42 1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

On the 4th of April we had Division Review, our regi. 
ment being second best as to general condition and 
drill. 

April 2 2d, we went on a scout up the valley as far as 
Strasburg, our cavalry having a little tilt with the enemy, 
but nothing decisive resulted. On the next day we re- 
turned to Winchester with thirty prisoners. On the 25th 
we again started up the valley, the next day arriving at 
Wardonsville, distant thirty-one miles. On the way we 
passed the celebrated Capon Springs, a beautiful place, 
reopened since the war. 

On the morrow we marched to Lost River, and find- 
ing the bridge gone, we returned to our camp of the 
night previous. On the roufie we passed some of the. 
wildest and most beautiful scenery that West Virginia 
can boast of. On the 27th we again started for More- 
field, with arrangements for crossing the river, but when 
nine miles out received orders to return, and went into 
camp at Wardonsville for the third time. The next day 
we marched to Strasburg, where the 13th Pennsylvania 
cavalry was led into an ambush, losing several men in 
killed and wounded. The Rebels, however, were 
driven out, though no general engagement occured. 
The next day we returned to Winchester, having marched 
ninety-four miles, and that too without having accom- 
plished any particular end as we could see. When in 
camp we were drilling steadily seven hours a day, gain- 
ing in proficiency in the arts of war every day, and fit- 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 43 

ting ourselves to undergo the fatigue and hardships that 
we were soon to be called upon to endure. 

We did a large amount of hard work while in the val- 
ley, up to June 1 2th ; long scouts up the valley were a 
weekly occurrence, and heavy picket and fatigue duty was 
the daily order of exercise, still, thanks to the excellent 
water and fine weather, the health of the regiment was in 
the main good. On the 5th of May, we started out with 
a week's rations and forty rounds, on a scout. The first 
day out we marched for three hours through a drenching 
rain-storm, such as only occurs in the valleys, we went to 
New Market, and returned to Winchester on the 9th, 
having marched one hundred and four miles. We saw 
a few miserable bushwhackers, but nothing that would 
indicate any rebel force. 

It was soon after this trip that the entire regiment 
went out on road work, making four miles of McAda- 
mized road in three days. 

Soon after our arrival at Winchester, our Adjutant, W. 
V. McCracken, and ist Lieutenant Hugh L. McKee, of 
company D, were detailed on Gen. Milroy's staff, where 
the former served until after the battle of Winchester, 
and the latter was promoted to Captain and Assistant 
Quarter-Master, and never again returned to the regiment. 
On the 9th of June, Lieut. Gillam of company F died of 
typhoid fever. He had been sick for a long time, and had 
every attention and care, his wife being with him nearly 
all the time. 



44 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

On the afternoon of June 12th the Long Roll sounded 
and the regiment with the ii6th Ohio Infantry. 12th 
Virginia, and Battery D, and a regiment of cavalry 
started out on the valley pike. When beyond Kearnstown 
we met the enemy in considrable force, and drawing 
them into an enfilading fire, gave them so warm a recep- 
tion that they started up the valley faster than they had 
come down. We captured a good many prisoners, and 
after night fall, we returned to camp — satisfied that the 
next day would bring, as the boys termed it, '* business," 
and, as events proved, their conjectures were well 
founded. 



t2 5D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 4^ 



CHAFTKR III 



ACCOUNT OF THE ENGAGEMENF AT WINCdESTER, JUNE 
I3TII, I4TH AND 15TH, 1863. 

June 13th dawned clear and bright on the Valley 
City, the quiet hush of morning gave little indication of 
the scene of carnage so soon to be enacted. About 9 
o'clock in the morning the long roll sounded to arms, 
and soon the regiment was in line awaiting orders. Soon 
they came and we were rapidly moved up the i»ike to 
Kearnstown, where after having deployed a heavy line 
of skirmishers, the regiment was halted and remained 
until about 2 o'clock P. M., when rapidly drawing in 
our skirmishers, we fell back a short distance and took 
up a position west of the pike. While crossing the pike 
the enemy opened a sharp fire upon us, and several men 
were killed or wounded, but the regiment behaved 
splendidly, taking their position as colly as veterans, 
though under fire, as you might say for the first time. 
Volley after volley was now poured into the enemies 
ranks, which must have done good execution, as their 
fire very sensibly slackened. We again changed position 



46 i2 3t) OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

to a slight eminence a few rods in the rear, where the 
regiment remained firm, receiving and returning the 
enemy's fire as cahiily as though drawn up on dress par- 
ade until night drew her curtains about us and put an 
end to the carnage. Our lines were now drawn close 
around the city, our regiment remaining in line until 
long after midnight, when we were relieved and allowed 
a few hours for rest. In this day's fight the regiment's 
loss was seventy-six men in killed and wounded. The 
men acted grandly, receiving praise for their gallant 
conduct from Gen. Milroy in person. 

The next morning we were ordered into the fort where 
we remained until evening, when we were ordered to 
make a sortie, but were driven back, the enemy having 
captured one of our outer posts, and turned their guns 
upon us. 

Our forces now all rallied upon the main fort where 
the enemy charged us, but they were easily repulsed, and 
they did not again make the attempt. 

All were now confidant that our position was no longer 
tenable, the Rebels being largely superior in numbers 
and rapidly concentrating more troops in our vicinity ; a 
council of war was held, when it was decided to make 
the attempt to cut our way thruugh to Harper's Ferry if 
possible. About 2 o'clock in the morning the movement 
began ; the column moved out on the Martinsburg pike. 
Our regiment having the advance, all went well until we 
had put about five miles between us and Winchester, and 



12 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRV. 47 

were congratulating ourselves on getting out so nicely, 
when all at once our advance guard struck the enemy, 
who had marched around and got in our rear during the 
night. 

Our regiment and the 87th Pennsylvania were rapidly 
got into position, and immediately charged the Rebels, 
who were drawn up in a wood just to the right of the 
road, capturing their artillery, but were unable to hold 
them against the murderous fire now poured into our 
ranks, and sullenly retired for a short distance. Two 
other regiments were now hurried into position, when we 
again moved to the charge. In steady and firm line we 
now advanced, and, though, grape and canister ploughed 
great lanes through our poor ranks, not a man faltered 
or turned back ; but the gallant old regiment was leav- 
ing its track marked with its dead and its dying. Once 
more their guns were ours, again their deadly fire forced 
our now sadly weakened lines slowly back, but only a 
few rods, when once more a strong line was formed and 
our boys stood grim and firm awaiting the next move. It 
will be remembered that all this fighting was done in the 
darkness, though the gray of morning began faintly to light 
up the scene as the regiment retired from this charge. 
The terrific picture presented in that wood we shall not 
soon forget ; the flashes of musketry in the darkness, 
casting a sickly glare all around ; the roar of artillery, 
the crashing of grape shot through the brush; the cheers 
of the charging troops, and cries of the dying left an im- 



48 i2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRV. 

press that will remain vivid in our memories while time 
with us remains. 

Not long were we held inactive ; for the third time, 
over the same ground, did our gallannt little band make 
their way, and though greatly weakened in numbers, 
with unfaltering step, and shoulder to shoulder, the dan- 
gerous distance was again traversed, but only to repeat the 
sickening details of the first and second charges. On re- 
tiring from this last assault we fell slowly back out of the 
range of their guns, repulsed — sadly stricken, yet still 
undaunted, for by this time we, of course, supposed that 
the entire army would be on the ground and in shape for 
action. That we were whipped we had not the remotest 
idea, and when a white flag was hoisted — as we afier- 
wards learned — by the orders of Col. Ely of the i8th 
Connecticut, who was left in command, all were com- 
pletely taken aback, for there was not the slightest doubt 
but that we could have got away as easily as not ; how- 
ever we had to submit and surrendered three bundled 
and one men and twenty-one commissioned officers. 

Throughout these three da)'s of bloody baptism, the 
men and officers behaved in the most gallant manner. In 
the storm of gra})e and canister Col. Wilson, Lieut. -Col. 
Hunter and Maj. Horace Kellogg, rode their horses as 
coolly as though it were simply a hail storm, which, un- 
doubtedly, contributed great])- in keeping the regiment 
so firmly to the work. 

In making the second charge Major Kellogg was 



I23t) OftIO VOLUNTEER INEANTrY. 49 

severely wounded, and retired soon after from tlie field 
and succeeded in making his escape into Maryland, where 
those of the regiment who made their escape were sub- 
sequently collected together. Company D, Capt. Shaw- 
han commanding, being on provost duty, were in charge 
of the prisoners, and of course did not participate in the 
fight, which was not only fortunate for them, but for the 
regiment also, as otherwise there would have been no 
nucleus around which to gather. In this engagement 
our loss was fifty-one men in killed and wounded, and 
three officers wounded, one of whom, Capt. Bender of 
company I, afterwards died in prison. We afterwards 
learned that, while our regiment together with four 
others, was making this desperate fight, the rest 
of our forces, flanked the enemy and pushed right on to 
Harper's Ferry, leaving us to our fate ; perhaps it was 
for the best, but, from our stand-point, we failed to see the 
beauty of the strategy. 

We were taken back to Winchester about noon, pre- 
paratory to being sent in to Dixie, which was soon 
after done. 



[*5] 



50 I23D OHIO VOLUNT R INFANTRY. 



CHAPTKR IV. 



HISTORY OF REGIMENT FROM JUNE 15TH, 1863, TO MAY 

i8tH, 1864, INCLUDING THE ENGAGEMENT, 

AT NEW MARKET, 

So large a portion of the regiment being now cap- 
tured, we propose to follow their fortunes into Rebel- 
dom as a regiment. Company I), acting as provost 
guard to Gen. Milroy, went out with the balance of the 
army, doing guard duty at various points until the regi- 
ment was again organized, as will subsequently appear. 
After the surrender of the forces by Col. Ely, as nar- 
rated, the men of the 123d were marched into the fort 
at Winchester, and there confined until such time as the 
Rebels could make it convenient to take them to their 
future prison. 

Now, indeed, did the situation seem anything but 
cheerful ; the Rebel army had passed north, and as we 
supposed, were marching about unopposed, over the 
>"tates of Maryland and Pennsylvania. They had made 
their boasts that some of the great cities of the North 
should taste the horrors of war, and we did not know but 



i23t> OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. ^i 

at that moment Lee's hordes might be running "riot 
through the streets of Philadelphia. The cause of the 
Union, the cause for which we had suffered, seemed at a 
low ebb. It will be remembered that we were now 
passing through a phase of life entirely different from 
anything heretofore experienced. ^^ery few of us had 
ever been in duress for a single instant; and thus to be 
deprived of our lil)erties, to become the creatures ot 
another's will, it is not surprising that our faith for a time 
weakened, and the darkness of despair seemed well nigh 
upon us. \Vc, however, were treated with some degree 
of humanity by the Rebels, and received many proofs 
that there were some good and true Union people living 
in Winchester, for which they, one year later, received 
satisfactory and substantial tokens of our esteem. 

On the afternoon of the T6th, the men were started on 
their long journey to Richmond, arriving at Staunton on 
the 22d, distant ninety miles. Here we took the cars 
for Richmond, arriving there on the 23d. It seemed as 
though the entire Rebel capitol had turned out to see 
the Yankees, and would hoot and hiss at us as we passed 
along. The officers took up their quarters at Hotel-de- 
Libby; the men were furnished accommodations on 
*' Belle-Isle," which by the way was nothing more nor 
less than a large sand bank, with a few trees upon it, situ- 
ated near the bouth bank of the James River. We were 
closely guarded, not even allowed the privilege of buy- 
ing one of their own papers, though we managed to get 



52 I2 3t» OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRV. 

one now and tlien from tlie guards. It is needless to 
recount our sufferiiigs here, as no pen can do adequate 
justice to the subject. I will only say that the meat and 
soup were full of maggots., and the bread so stale and 
sour as to be almost unpalatable, these constituting our 
eatables, while the- water we drank was even worse. 

On the 6th of July the majority of the men were ]jarol- 
ed,and were takeii to City Point, by rail, via Petersburg, 
and delivered to the United States authorities. Never 
were the Stars and Stripes more enthusiastically clieered, 
than when we fust ;;aw them streaming from the I'lag of 
the Truce boat ; once on board we had plent)- to eat, and 
soon all were in high spirits. On arriving at Anna]X)lis — 
where those left in prison joined us one week later — we 
were furnished new clothing throughout, our old ones 
being full of " grayd)acks," and were supplied with com- 
fortable quarters Very soon the boys began to scatter 
to their homes, where most of them were allowed to re- 
main until they were exchanged, after which time they 
were ordered to report at Camp Chase. About the ist 
of September, most of them were on hand, and soon af- 
ter were sent to Martinsburg, Virginia, where the de- 
tachment of the regiment which had escaped from Win- 
chester were located under command of Maj. Horace 
Kellogg, who had sufficiently recovered from his wound 
to again take the field. 

From this time the history of our organization, as a 
regiment again commences. At this place we were new- 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



53 



ly armed and equipped, and being deficient in officers, 
twenty-one being still in prison, were engaged mainly in 
provost and picket duty until March ist 1864. During 
the month of November, Adjutant McCracken, with one 
non-commissioned officer from each company was sent 
to Ohio to recruit, and fill up our depleted ranks. Very 
good success was met with, adding one hundred and 
twenty-eight men to our effective force ; some promo- 
tions were also made; sergeants S. A. Johnson, Elmer E. 
Husted, Charles M. Keyes and Martin W. Willoughby 
were promoted to 2d lieutenants. The winter was quiet- 
ly spent in camp, which was located one-half mile west 
of town; when the weather permitted, drilling by com- 
pany and scjuad occurred daily, so that when spring 
opened, the regiment was in good conditicjii and ready 
for any duty which might turn up O.i March ist, 1S64, 
the companies were distributed as guards along the Balti- 
more and Ohio Railroad, between Harpers Ferry and 
Monocacy Junction, with headiparters at Martinsburg. 

About the 26th of March the regiuient was collected 
together at Martinsburg where Gen. Stegel was concen- 
trating troops preparatory to a movenunt up the valley; 
and from the orders issued to our little army, we knew 
that our season of inaction was drawing to a close. On 
the 29th we broke camp at Martinsburg and marched out 
to Bunker Hill, remaining there two or three days, when 
we proceeded to Winchester and encamped about two 
miles beyong the city ; a portion of the regiment was 



54 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

sent into the city, under command of Capt. Snyder to act 
as provost guard, with orders to search the town, which 
was done, and a lare:e collection of old sjuns, swords and 
accoutrements were collected together and destroyed. 
About the ist of May our forces moved up the valley as 
far as Cedar Creek, where they remained until the loth 
making the final preparations for our grand raid on 
Lynchburg. Baggage was cut down to the minimum; 
each soldier was provided with an extra pair of shoes, 
and loaded down with rations and ammunition, we broke 
camp, and moved leisurely on through Strasburg, Wood- 
stock, and Mt. Jackson, to New Market, where, on the 
night of the 14th we struck the enemy in some force, our 
brigade having the advance, we had a lively little skirm- 
ish, but of short duration, the Rebels soon giving way. 
We kid on our arms during the night, but no attack was 
made. 

The next morning our brigade was manuevred around 
in various directions, the artillery placed in position, and 
things began to look as though a battle was iminent, but 
for some unknown reason, the remainder of our little 
army was not brought up ; about noon the enemy open- 
ed upon us with artillery, to which our batteries rapidly 
replied, and soon their lines could be seen coming across 
the fields, two deep, one directly behind the other, with 
a heavy line of skirmishers in advance, and nothing but 
our brigade to receive them. We were in a good posi- 
tion, and with the artillery on either flank, awaited their 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 55 

approach. Soon our cannons opened on their rapidly 
advancing Unes, deaUng death and destruction, but not 
checking them for an instant ; on they came, sweeping 
Hke an avalanche upon our little band. We held our fire 
until they were almost within pistol shot, when we 
poured in our volleys, with terrific effect; rapidly were 
our well directed volleys given, doubling their first line 
back upon their second, that still came unfalteringly on, 
lapping by our little line, both on the right flank and the 
left, rapidly firing as they advanced until our little band 
could no longer withstand their overwhelming numbers, 
and slowly we began to retire — taking our cannon back 
through a eedar thicket, our pathway marked with the 
blood of our braves. As they appeared over the emi- 
nence we had lately occupied, they poured in upon us 
such a storm of shot and shell, so thick that the very air 
seemed alive with bullets. On passing through here on 
our way up the valley a month later, we examined this 
spot, and found scarce a tree or bush unmarked, show- 
ing that the fire at this point must have been severe in- 
deed. 

On the crest of the hill beyond another stand was 
made, which checked their advance for a short time, but 
soon we were again compelled to fall back, this time 
pretty badly shattered. Major Kellogg, commanding 
the regiment, had his horse shot from under him and 
received quite a severe wound himself. He, however, 
was supplied with another horse by the officer command- 



56 I25D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

ing a battery near at hand, and again rallying his com- 
mand, which fell back in good order. By this time we had 
reached our reserves on Rood's Hill, about three miles 
from where the attack commenced, which checked the 
enemies advance until night put an end to the conflict. 
In this engagement the regiments loss was sixty three 
in killed and wounded, and twenty-six missing. The 
missing being all taken prisoners, many of whom were 
afterwards slowly tortured to death in prison. The army 
Avas now drawn back to Ceder Creek, where we arrived 
on the 17th. Gen. Siegel had been relieved and Gen. 
Hunter placed in command. 



I 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 57 



CHAI'TER ^^. 



LYNCHBURG KAID. 

On the 2 2d of May, 1864, jir.t previous to starting on 
this raid, the General commanding issued the following 
order : 

Headiiuarlprs Department West Virginia ) 

In the Field, near Cedar Creek, May 22, 1864. ) 

GENERAL ORDERS. ) 
No. 29. ) 

It IS ot the utmost importance that this army be placed in a situ- 
ation for immediate efhciency. We are contending against an 
enemy who is in earnest, and if we expect success, wc too must be 
m earnest. We must be willing to make sacrifices, willing to suHer 
for a short time, that a gloricnis result may crown our efforts. The 
country is expecting every man to do his duty ; and, this done, an 
ever kuid Providence will certainly grant us a complete success. 

i. Every tent will be immediately turned in for transportation 
to Martmsburg; and all baggage not expressly allowed by this 
order, will be at once sent to the rear. There will be but one 
wagon allowed to each regiment, and this will only be used to 
transport spare amunition, camp kettles, tools and mess-pans. Every 
wagon will have eight picked horses or mules, two drivers and two 
saddles. One wagon and one ambulance will be allowed to De- 
partment Headquarters, and the same to Division and Brigade 
Headquarters. The other ambulances will be under the immedi- 
ate orders of the Medical Director. 



58 1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

II. For the expedition on hand, the clothes each soldier has on 
his back, with one pair of extra shoes and socks, are amply suffi- 
cient. Everything else in the shape of clothing, will be packed 
to-day and sent to the rear. Each knapsack will contani one 
hundred rounds of amunition, carefully packed, four pounds of 
hard bread, to last eight days, ten rations of cofl'ee, sugar and salt, 
one pair of shues and socks, and nothing else. 

III. Brigade and all other commanders will be held strictly 
responsible that their commands are amply supplied from the 
country. Cattle, sheep and hogs, and if necessary, liorses and 
mules must be taken and slaughtered. These supplies will be 
seized under the direction of officers duly authorized, and upon a 
system which will hereafter be regulated. No straggling or ))illag- 
ing will be allowed. Brigade and other commanders will be held 
responsible that there is no waste, and that. there is a proper and 
orderly division amongst their men of the supjilies taken for our 
use. 

IV. Commanders will attend personally to the prompt execution 
of this order, so that we may move to morrow morning. They 
will see that in passing through a country in this way, depending 
upon it for forage and supplies, great additional vigdance is re- 
quired on the part of every officer in the command of men, for the 
strict enforcement of discipline. 

V. The Commanding deneral expects from every officer and 
soldier of the army in the field, an earnest and unhesitating sup- 
port ; and relies, with confidence, upon an ever kind Providence for 
a glorious result. The Lieutenant General, commanding the armies 
of the United States, who is now victoriously pressing back the 
enemy upon their last stronghold, expects much from the Army of 
the Shenandoah ; and he must not be disappointed. 

VI. In conclusion, the Major General commanding, while 
holding every officer to the strictest resposibility of his position, 
and prepared to enforce discipline with severity when necessary, 
will never cease to urge the prompt promotion of all officers, non- 
commissioned officers and enlisted men who earn recognition by 
their galantry and good codduct. 

By command of 

MAJ. GEN. HUNTER : 

Chas. G. Halpine, 

Assistant Adjutant General. 

[OFFICIAL.] 



A. A. G. 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 59 

At this time the 123d Ohio, with i i6th and 2Sth Ohio, 
i8th Connecticut, 2d Indiana (P. H. B.)andi6oth Ohio 
(N. G.), constituted the ist Brigade of the ist Division; 
Col. Moore of the 28th Ohio Regiment commanding, and 
Brig. Gen. SulHvan Division commander. The regiment 
was then lying in (amp at Cedar Creek, Maj. Kellogg 
being in command. During the night of the 25th, Col. 
Wilson and Capt. Chamberlin rejoined the regiment, 
just having been exchanged as prisoners of war. In 
compliance with the order just given, each man was 
required to pack in his knapsack one hundred rounds of 
ammunition, which in addition to the extra clothing allow- 
ed, and f(Kir days rations of hard bread, caused 
some grumbling among the men at Ijcing convertetl into 
a pack train as they styled it. 

On the morning of the 2d, Col. Wilson having as- 
sumed command of the regiment. Gen. Hunter, with his 
whole command, started up the valley on the proposed 
trip to Lynchburg. The regiment reported four hundred 
men for duty. We marched fourteen miles, and went 
into camp. Next morning we were routed out at 4 o'clock 
to see how promptly Ave could get into " line of 
battle," which was done in just five minutes. We remained 
here in camp until Sunday morning the 29th, drilling 
some. One day the whole regiment was ordered out 
as a foraging party ; reported at Division Headcpiarters 
for duty, when the order was countermanded and we 
were sent back to our quarters. We now had ten com- 



6o I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

missioned company officers with the regiment. Dr. 
Ferris was acting as Brigade Surgeon, and the Chaplain as 
Postmaster. Sunday we marched to Rood's Hill, and 
went into camp. The next day details from each regi- 
m.ent were busy scouring the country and bringing in all 
the provisions they could discover. A few men from the 
regmient, under Capt. Dvvight Kellogg, were placed in 
charge of a mill near by, and began making flour as fast as 
possible, running night and day. The loth Ohio (N. 
G.), complaining very much of being taken to the front, 
were sent back on the 30th. On June ist, flour was issued 
to the men for the first time since we entered the service. 
It took some time for them to become accustomed to 
the use of it, but our hard tack was exhausted and it 
was ^'slap-jacks" or nothing. At 5 o'clock on the 
morning of the 2d, we again started, passing through 
New Market. We saw a few Rebels once during the day, 
when we were halted and formed in line of battle ; but 
it amounted to nothing, and we soon passed on ; 
about 3 o'clock P. M., we reached flarrisburg, a dis- 
tance of twenty- two miles. Our advance had a small 
skirmish with the "Jonnies," but nothing serious oc- 
cured. The main force encamped about a mile from 
town, the 123d going into camp just within the suburbs. 
In a few moments, Capt. Chamberlin, with a hundred 
and fifty men, was sent into town with directions to" 
picket around the town, and with the remainder of the 
men to search thoroughly for arms, provisions and 



I23D OHTO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 61 

every thing that could be used by the army. Soon 
after, fifty more men were sent from ihe regiment and 
quartered in the Court House. Lieutenants Leonard and 
VViUiams were in charge of the pickets; and Lieutenants 
Keyes, Hustead and Willoughby of the Provost guards, 
under direction of Lieut. CcjK Starr, Provost Marshal 
General, and at once destroyed the press, type, etcs., 
belonging to the office of the Rockini^haj?! Re^^iste?' then 
remained under arms all night. Next day the men were 
divided into small parties, and searched the town com- 
pletely ; the result of v/hich was an accumulation in 
the Court House yard of seventy-five barrels of flour, a 
lot of meat, sugar, corn, wheat, tobacco, (the most 
plentiful article found), a bale of sheeting and some arms 
and accoutrements. Capt. Chamberlin, at his (piarters, 
was bothered all day by men, women and children, who 
were endeavoring to recover certain articles thus appro- 
priated. Some pleading, some demanding and others 
threatning what their friends would do to " you'ns," if 
they were at home. Three or four families were except- 
ed from the search on the account of their Unionism 
and kindness to wounded Federal soldiers, who fell into 
their hands at the battle of New Market, and who were 
able to designate with uneering certainty those who 
should be thus excepted. During the day the remainder 
of the 123d moved into town and took up their quarters 
near the Court House. Next morning, Saturday, June 
24th, we started for Staunton directly, distant only 



62 ^^3^ ^^^" VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

twenty-four miles ; but after marcliing two or three 
miles, we left the pike to the right, and attempted to 
flank into Crawford, where the pike crosses the She- 
nandoah; we reached the river about i o'clock P. M., 
and remained there some three hours, while the Pontoon 
Corps was bridging tlie river. During this ti me our 
troops destroyed a laige woolen factory just across the 
river, in a small town called Port Republic ; then march- 
ing through the town just at dark, we went into camp in 
the brush, the teams did not get up till midnight. 

On the morning of the 5th, we started at 5 o'clock, 
our regiment being at once deployed as skirmishers on 
the left of the Brigade v Our cavalry videttes soon met 
the enemy and had quite a skirmish ; they falling back 
to near a little town called Piedmont, about nine miles 
from our camp of the night previous. The 12 3d was 
soon placed along the wagon train as guard. About 10 
o'clock A. M., our force attacked the enemy in their po- 
sition, which was a strong one ; a heavy fight was kept 
up until 3 o'clock P. M., when a furious charge was made 
by both Brigades of infantry, completely driving them 
out of their works, routing them thoroughly, and cap- 
turing one thousand two hundred prisoners, among 
whom was Gen. Vaughn. Rebel General Jones was 
killed. The loss on both sides was very great, both 
Union and Rebel dead being found side by side all 
over the field. The 123d was ordered up just at the close 
of the action, but not in time to participate. Early next 



i23t» OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 63 

morning company A was sent out to the battlefield to 
gather up and destroy the arms lying there, some one 
thousand two hundred stands. While engaged in the 
performance of this duty, under the direction of the 
Provost Marshal General, by piling them up in large 
piles, first a tier of rails, then one of muskets, muzzles all 
pointing one way, for many of them were loaded, and al- 
though the men had been repeatedly cautioned by Capt. 
Chamberlin and Lieut. Husted, not to go in front of the 
piles. Sergeant Baroff incautiously did so ; at this mo- 
ment one of the pieces was discharged by a rail thrown 
on the pile, the ball passing nearly through his right leg, 
half way between the knee and hip, shattering the bone 
very badly and rendering amputation imperatively neces- 
sary. He was at once taken back to the Field Hospital, 
since which time nothing was ever heard from him. The 
company immediately joined the regiment already on 
their march toward Staunton, arriving there about 4 
P. M, a distance of twelve miles, being the first Union 
hifantry that had ever been there. We met with no resis- 
tence whatever, the Rebels having fled in another direction. 
We found several hundred of their sick and wounded 
here. The regiment went into camp one mile west of 
town. Dr. Brisbine, who had been promoted to Assis- 
tant Surgeon, joined the regiment while on the march. 
Before leaving here our troops destroyed the railroad de- 
pot, bridges, track and telegraph, in and near town. 



64 1 2 3D OHIO VOLENTEER INFRNTRY. 

We then started for Buffalo Gap, distant ten miles, 
marching in three columns, cavalry and artillery in the 
road, and a brigade of infantry on each side. We 
marched some five miles through woods and underbrush, 
then halted and in a short time returned, and went into 
the same camp we had occupied the night previous. An 
ambulance train was sent back to the battlefield 
after the wounded, returning late at night. Gen. Averill, 
with whom we were expecting to make a junction at this 
point, arrived with his command, making us, now, quite 
a formidable little army. 

In the afternoon of June 7th, three hundred and fifty 
men and eiglit officers, under command of Capt. Cham- 
berhn, were sent out to relieve the 28th Ohio, then do^ 
ing picket duty. Part of the men were stationed on a 
hill where, just about a year before, they were permitted 
to rest for a few h(3urs, when on their wa)- to Richmond 
as prisoners of war. The contrast between their situa- 
tion then and now was vividly appreciated by the boys. 

On the 9th the regiment returned to camp, and shoes 
were issued to those of the men who needed them. The 
prisoners captured at Port P^epublic, were sent to the 
rear in charge of the 2Sth Ohio — whose term of service 
having expired — was going home. Here Chaplain Ferris 
resigned, his resignation l)eing accepted at once ; 
and he left for home with this return train. Our com- 
mand left next morning, moving on three different 
roads, Averill on one. Crooks on another, and Hunter 



6^ 



OD the Lexington road. Our regiment marched in the 
rear as wagon guard. A very long and dusty march, 
passed through Greenville — where a large mill was de- 
stroyed — to Midway, a distance of eighteen miles, where 
we went into camp very tired. In a few moments com- 
pany A was sent out as a support to a battery of artillery 
near the picket line, Saturday the nth. We started at 
5 A. M., drew rations of flour just as we left, but no 
time was allowed to prepare any of it ; on this account, 
and the great heat and dust, the men became very much 
fatigued before night, and very many were compelled to 
fall back during the day. We marched seventeen miles 
to within sight of Lexington. We found Gen. 
Grooks here in advance and skirmishing with a small 
force of the enemy, who had burned the bridge o\'er the 
river, and then scattered some sharpshooters along the 
shore, to harass our men, while constructing their pon- 
toon bridge ; but our troops soon drove them back with 
but small loss on our part. While this was being done, 
our division of infantry lay in position about two miles 
from town from 2 to 6 P. M. We then went into camp 
about half a mile from the river. 

Next day we crossed the river and went into camp in 
the edge of town. Military Listitute, which is located 
here, was destroyed. On the 13 th we still re- 
mained in camp. Some canal-boats were captured with 
artillery and ammunition which were destroyed. Next 
morning we were early on the move again, and although 



66 t2^\J OMIO VOLUN'TEER INFANTRY. 

it was extremely warm and dust) , we succeeded in making 
a distance of twetity-four miles to Buckannon. We passed 
within two miles of the natural bridge, but there was no 
time for hunting curiosities. Our march was along an 
old plankroad. The Rebels had endeavored to destroy 
many small bridges, and thus obstruct our progress ; 
but we were so close on them, they succeeded in doing 
but little damage, until we reached Buckannon, where we 
found the bridge over the James River in ruins, and we 
were compelled to cross in canal barges. Two com- 
aniesofthe regiment were guarding prisoners, under 
comnund of Lieutenants Leonard and Keyes. Our 
"hard-tack " was all gone, and flour getting scarce, but 
fresh beef and mutton still plenty. The next day we 
were on the road about 9 A. M., and went to the edge of 
town, where we laid until after dinner, when we again 
started in the direction of Lynchburg. We crossed Ot- 
ter Peak, a very high mountain, with a very narrow, 
rough road over it. In many places our way was ob- 
structed by trees that had been felled across ; undoubt- 
edly done by Bushwhackers, for in one place there lay 
the dead body of one, who had been caught in the act 
and slain by our advance. We went into camp, for the 
night, at 9 o'clock, about halfway down the mountain. 
The following morning we started at 5 o'clock, marched 
through Liberty to a point five miles beyond where we 
went into camp. While halting in the town, several 
men of the " 5th Heavies" were pillaging a large dwel- 



i2^V OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 6'] 

ling house — in which the flimily were still residing — of 
pictures, books, and other articles that could be of no 
use to them. A scpiad of men from company A, were 
sent into the house with orders to clean them out at the 
point of the bayonet, which was promptly done. The 
123d was all on picket again at night. 

On the 1 7th we started as usual very early. After 
marching two miles, to the creek, we found the bridge 
burned, and had to wait some three hours for the Pon- 
toon corps to rei)air damages. We then moved on 
through New London. Generals Crooks' and Averill's 
commands met the enemy, and liad quite an engagement 
some three miles from Lynchburg. They drove the 
Rebels from two different positions, capturing some ar- 
tillery and prisoners. We arrived at the front about 
dark, and relieved the advanced line. Company F was 
immediately sent out on the skirmish line. This morn- 
ing a part of the wagon train was detached and sent to 
the rear. Two " One-IIundred-Day " regiments accom- 
panied them as escort. We had marched twenty-four 
miles, and, it being very hot, many of the men gave out. 
On the morning of the i8lh company F was relieved by 
company D, under command of Capt. .Shawhan, the 
former having lost three killed, Sergeant Dunn, and Pri- 
vates Kiehl a^nd Savage, and six wounded The Rebel 
skirmish line was composed of sharpshooters, many of 
whom were armed with long-range rifles, and stationed 
in tree-tops, doing severe execution. All night we could 



68 i23D OHIO VOLF.NTEER INFRNTRV. 

hear the trains running into Lynchburg, bringing rein- 
forcements from Richmond, and the next morning sikir- 
mishing commenced at once, and fighting, to some ex- 
tent, continued all day. Company I), while on the 
skirmish line, was under a sharj) Ore nearly all the time, 
whicli. however, resulte<l in no loss to them. 

Company G had one man, private Stokely, wounded 
by the explosion of a shell. About dusk it was decided 
to fall back, and at 8 o'clock P. M., we commenced our 
retrograde movement ; we marched all night, reaching 
Otter Creek tlie next morning, the 19th, after a very 
tedious and severe tramp ; the boys being very much 
exhausted and needing rest, a great many dropping 
down by the side of the road, would fall asleep on the 
road, and it would be almost impossible to arouse them. 
We encamped two miles beyond Liberty, where we 
rested a couple of hours, and then moved on. While 
here our rear had some se\'ere skirmishing with the 
enemy, who were endeavoring to harass our troops and 
cut off part of our train, but were repulsed and driven 
off. About 2 o'clock A. M., on the 20th, we rested a 
couple of hours, then moved on till 8 o'clock A. M., 
when we halted an hour for breakfast. While here Gen. 
Hunter, in person, asked for two companies of the regi- 
ment to destroy a large pile of wood and a water tank 
on the railroad near by, which was done effectually. We 
went into camp at noon, having marched forty five miles 
in forty hours and on very limited rations, in fact nothing 



1230 OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 69 

but fresh beef and mutton. We had rested only a few 
moments when there was some skirmishing in our rear, 
and we were ordered to move forward again. We 
marched on all night, this being the third night without 
any sleep, through Conyer Springs and Big Lick to 
within one mile of Salem, arriving there on the morning 
of the 2 1 St, where we found skirmishing again in pro- 
gress ; the Rebels endeavoring to get in our front. Two 
companies of our regiment were immediately sent out as 
skirmishers, but met no enemy. We rested there until 
10 o'clock, when we moved on through Salem about two 
miles, where we found the enemy had attacked the train 
and captured sixteen pieces of artillery and some men, 
but being closely pressed only succeeded in disabling six 
pieces, taking none away witli them. We then made a 
forced march of seven miles, which we did in one hour 
and twenty minutes, to overtake the train. We rested 
there two hours, antl were highly complimented by 
Col. Wells, our brigade commander, for our close and 
rapid marching with no straggling. We moved on again 
at 4 o'clock P. M., marching on a regular ''back and 
forth " road, over a mountain, and went into camp 
twelve miles from Salem, having marched twenty-four 
miles in twenty-four hours. Meat and coffee in small 
quantities were issued to the men at this point. 

On the morning of the 2 2d we were ordered into line 
and maneuvered around some, but did not get fairly 
started until i o'clock P. M. We marched in the rear of 



70 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

of the column all day, encamping at half past ten in a 
very stony field at New Castle Court House ; just before 
arriving there we forded Craig's creek three times. The 
men were completely jaded, many dropping down where 
they stood, when the regiment halted, and almost in- 
stantly falling asleep. 

We were aroused at 2 o'clock for an early start, but 
were delayed by the wagon train until 9 A. M. Our en- 
tire brigade acted as train guard, one company to every 
ten wagons, and a heavy escort for the artillery. This 
was the hardest day's march in our experience, not on 
account of its length, but that it was over three moun- 
tains — we were now crossing the Alleghanies — one of 
them being eleven miles over, and a portion of the time 
we had to march very rapidly to keep up with the train. 
Horses and mules were ''playing out" in great numbers, 
and had to be pushed from the road, over the side of the 
mountain, in order that the train might pass. The 
weather continued very hot and dry, and the road very 
dusty; we made a halt of two hours at half past 10 in the 
evening, for coffee and mutton, nearly all being too 
tired to prepare it for eating; then on again for six 
miles, going into camp at half past 3 in the morning at 
Sweet Springs. We remained there until 4 P. M., when 
we started for "White Sulphur" Springs. The road 
was very rough, and the night quite dark, making this a 
very severe march ; we arrived there at half past 3, the 
next morning, June 24th. 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 7 1 

This was the place v/here the southern aristocracy, be- 
fore the war, came to air their wealth and gamble for 
darkies. 

It must have been a very pretty spot then, with its liv- 
ing springs of clear, cold water, and fine mountain scen- 
ery on all sides; but to us, it was simply a place to rest 
our wearied limbs for a few hours. We now had noth- 
ing but meat to eat, and very little of that. 

We started again in the afternoon, passing through 
Lewisburg, and going into camp four miles beyond at 
mid-night. Just at sunset we waded Greenbrier River, 
where it was about fifty rods wide and waist deep. We 
crossed in three columns, forming a beautiful sight to 
one placed where he could view it. The sun shining on 
the water and on the polished gun-barrels made it daz- 
zling to the eyes, while every now and then some unfor- 
tunate fellow would make a miss step and get a complete 
ducking, thereby creating a laugh at his expense. 

On the 26th, we marched all day, resting once for a 
little time, when the men drew some beef. We had a 
nice little shower in the afternoon, the first rain since leav- 
ing Staunton. Next day we marched eighteen miles, 
our regiment taking the advance. It rained hard after 
we went into camp, and we put up our '' Dog-Tents," 
the first time we had done it for ten days. We here met 
a small train, from which was issued three-fourths of a 
day's rations of hard bread, bacon, sugar and coffee. 
The men slaughtered a few straggling porkers they dis- 



72 1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

covered near camp, and then managed to have a real 
jolly supper in the rain. 

We were on the road early on the morning of the 
28th, and, at noon, met another train, and drew two days' 
rations of hard bread. 

On the 29th our march was over cjuite a hilly road, 
along the New River, through mountain gorges, and 
over rushing streams, crossing (iauley River at Gauley 
Bridge — no bridge however only in name — where the 
Gauley and New Rivers unite and form the Kanawha. 
Near this spot is a view of natural scenery, almost rival- 
ling Niagara in some respects. Upon a ledge of rocks 
overhanging the river, you can stand and look directly 
down a distance of two hundred feet to the bed of the river, 
then cast your eyes directly in front of you and see the 
other river coming down through the mountain gorges 
and emptying into the New, while all around the moun- 
tains tower up in all their majesty and grandeur. We 
went into camp about one mile beyond the bridge. 

The Lynchburg raid may now be called completed, 
for we have again reached our supplies. This march was 
very severe on our regiment, and many were now sick and 
worn out. Our rations were exhausted before we were 
fully started, and, a large portion of the country through 
which we passed, being very sparsely settled, we found 
great ditTticulty in procuring food, as the country had 
nothing in it to eat either for man or beast. For four 
days the regiment marched day and night, not halting 



I25D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 73 

over two hours at any one time. For nine days we had 
nothing to eat but fresh beef and mutton, and a very Ut- 
tle coffee. With all this the heat was intense, the roads 
very dusty, and the men became so completely exhausted, 
that frequently when the command halted, they would 
drop down just where they stood, and to get them started 
again, it was necessary to arouse every man, and not 
only arouse him, but get him on his feet, and even then 
they could often be seen in the ranks, marching along, 
sound asleep. Had there been anything in the country 
to subsist upon, we might have taken it leisurely, but as 

it was it was simply a march for rations, and this fact 

the men all understood, for it was so stated in a general 
order from Army Headquarters, and read to each regi- 
ment, hence there was little or no grumbling at the sever- 
ity of our marching. 

As the result of this raid — we marched five hundred 
miles since leaving Martinsburg, destroying a large 
amount of property, captured fifteen hundred prisoners, 
over a thousand head of cattle, a large number of sheep, 
besides living— if it could l)e called living — off the coun- 
try through which we passed. Several hundred negroes 
came through with us, many of them remaining with the 
various regiments as servants. On the other hand, we 
lost about one thousand horses and mules that gave out, 
and nearly one hundred wagons, that we were compelled 
to destroy, and lost quite a number of men, who were 
"played out," and undoubtedly fell into the hands of the 



74 

enemy. The men's shoes were giving out some partially, 
and occasionally one would be seen entirely bare-foot, 
trudging along with the rest, for it was sure capture to 
straggle, and the men knew it. The main object of the 
raid, which was doubtless to threaten Lynchburg, and 
thus cause Lee to weaken his forces in front of Rich- 
mond, by sending reinforcements to Lynchburg, was ful- 
ly obtained. 

The regiment was mustered for pay on the 30th, and 
remained in camp until July 2d, when we started fbr 
Camp Piatt, a distance of twenty-seven miles, there to 
take boats for some place unknown. It was a very warm 
day, and by by i o'clock, we had marched fifteen miles, 
barely stopping once, a few minutes for rest. The men 
appeared to suffer more from this day's march, than any 
previous one. Each man had three days' ratioiio in his 
haversack, and eating very freely, nearly every one was 
afflicted with that terrible camp disease, dysenterry. 
Resting two hours, we then moved on four miles and 
camped for the night. 

Next morning we were on the way again, reaching 
Camp Piatt at 5 o'clock. On the morning of the 4th, 
company A with a portion of the "5 th Heavies " (5 th 
N. Y. H. Artillery) and the Pioneer corps were loaded 
on the steamboat, " Mattie Roberts," and moved down 
the river slowly, the remainder of the regiment following 
in other boats. At Gallipolis the regiment was changed 
to the '' Anglo Saxon." Then moving up the Ohio, we 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 75 

soon had to change to the " Inno," a Hght draft boat, 
on account of the lov/ stage of water in the river. Op- 
posite Blennerhasset's Island, we found we could get no 
further and were compelled to land and march into Par- 
kersburg, a distance of six miles. At lo o'clock of the 
6th, the regiment was loaded on cars and started for our 
old home again, the Shenandoah Valley, arriving at 
Cherry Run on the the 8th of July and went into camp. 



76 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



CH^VPTER VI. 



FROM CHERRY RUN TO THE TIME THAT SHERIDAN TOOK 

COxMMAND, INCLUDING THE BATTLES OF 

snicker's FERRY, WINCHESTER, 

JULY 2 2D, AND MAR- 

TINSBURG. 

Two days' rest at this place when we were again on the 
road, without having received any suppHes of clothing, 
although sadly needing them ; many of the l)0}s were 
bare-footed, and all, with uniforms, filthy and in tatters, 
-^as can readily be concieved^ when it is taken into con- 
sideration, that they had been used for marching in by 
day and sleeping in by night, with nothing to protect 
them from the pelting storm while marching, or from 
the ground while lying down, and this for over six weeks 
upon a raid, which for continuous fighting, severe march- 
ing and scarcity of rations, the history of the war pre- 
sents no parallel. 

Arriving at Martinsburg on the afternoon of July 13th, 
we visited some of our old haunts, and found that things 
had undergone changes generally, that the Rebels had 



t23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 77 

been here, since we'd been gone, was evident, as many 
of our officers found out to tlieir displeasure. All of our 
baggage, and camp and garrison equipage, was stored here, 
when starting on the " raid " up the valley ; the officers 
leaving their valises at different private houses, contain- 
ing their best clothing, all of which had been visited, and 
their contents duly confiscated. Lieutenants Johnson and 
Keyes being the only ones overlooked, for which they 
were duly thankful, and indulged in a little merriment at 
their brother officers' misfortune. 

On the 13th we broke camp, taking the road towards 
Harper's Ferry, arriving there the next forenoon. On 
the 15th we again started out, crossing the river on a 
pontoon bridge, and marched down to Berlin, a little 
dried-up town, six miles below the Ferry, on the north 
bank of the Potomac, with no feature of interest, save 
the wildly Ijcautiful scenery that abounds on either hand; 
the bold bluffs on the opposite bank — tree-crowned — 
seemingly guarding the noble river below, while away to 
the southward, the PMue Ridge, rising tier on tier, giving 
the surrounding atmosi)here that peculiar hue, from which 
this range of moumains takes its name, and to the west- 
ward rises, almost to the very clouds, in picturesque 
beauty, the historic heights at Harper's Ferry. 

We had been detailed as escort to a battery of artillery, 
and early on the following morning, the "crossing over" 
began. The river at this point run's with great rapidity, 
and the bottom at the ford, we found to be full of huge 



^S I23D oUio VOLUNTEER I^IFANTRY, 

boulders, causing many a mishap and much labor ; some- 
times a horse would go down almost out of sight, but, at 
last, by swimming and wading, the crossing of the artil- 
lery was safely effected ; the men were transported over 
on an old flat boat that lay rotting, near by, on the 
shore. We pushed rapidly forward to Purcillville, an 
insignificant hamlet, near Snicker's Gap. 

The next day being Sunday, and, for a wonder, not 
being called upon for any sort of duty, was passed in a 
sort of sleepy, dreamy way — a fact noticeable throughout 
our whole command. Since the severe marcliing and 
physical endurance of the past two months. 

Early on Monday, the i8th, our division moved down 
to Snicker's Ferry, where the enemy was posted in force 
on the other side of the river. Our brigade was imme- 
diately pushed forward, plunging into the water, which 
was waist deep, we crossed over, driving the Rebels be- 
fore us, and took a position on the west bank of the 
famed Shenandoah. The rest of the division soon joined 
us, and our line of battle was rapidly formed. We had 
thrown out a heavy line of skirmishers, as soon as the 
crossing was effected. Col. Wilson taking charge of them 
in person, mounted on his .black charger, he rode from 
one end of the line to the other, getting it firmly estab- 
lished, and, though the air was thick with bullets, he es- 
caped unharmed. 

Here occurred one of those unfortunate fights in which 
it was the fortune of our forces so often to participate 



12 3b OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. ^9 

during the course of the war. Our lines were formed in 
something of a circle on the top of a knoll extending 
along the river, where, from the manuevering of the en- 
emy, we could see that they were in strong force. Soon 
they came charging down upon us, but our line stood 
firm as a rock, and sent them whirling back into the 
woods, where they re-formed their broken line, and 
with reiiiforcements came again to the attack, shaking their 
banners and yelling like mad-men, they came, but only 
to recoil, broken and shattered before our deadly vol- 
leys. Once again did they charge our unshaken line, but 
to be hurled back as before. 

Night was now rapidly coming on, and we were anx- 
iously looking for the balance of our troops to cross the 
river, but they did not come, and after twice getting or- 
ders, we began slowly to recross the river. 

Our regiment and the 34th Massachusetts, than which 
there was no braver nor more gallant regiment in the 
service — were left to protect the rear, and of course, 
were the last to effect the crossing, in doing which many 
lives were lost, quite a number of men in the regiment 
being either shot in the river or drowned in its rushing 
waters. 

Lieut. Willoughby, of company F, was wounded, and 
Lieut. Williams, of company 15, was killed, while fording 
the river — a noble hearted fellow, mourned by all who 
knew him. Orderly Davis, of company A, mortally 
wounded while firing the last shot at the enemy, was 



86 1230 OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

carried to an Island midway of the stream, where he was 
left to die — but before his brave spirit winged its flight to 
that other camping ground, he placed under a log by his 
side, his watch, pocket-book, knife, and all of his trink- 
ets, and the next day when his comrades returned to the 
spot to give him burial, these things were missed ; when 
the log being accidentally misplaced, his treasures were 
disclosed, and afterwards were sent home to his wife. 
Knowing his hours were few, lying there alone, dying, 
with only God's Angels watching over him, his last 
thoughts were of the dear ones at home, secreting his effects 
as narrated, hoping them to fall into the hands of his friends, 
that his wife and babies might receive this, his last, his 
dying gift. We often read of heroism upon the battle field 
when the blood is up, with flags waving in the breeze, bright 
bayonets gleaming on every side, and the thundering of 
cannon crashing through the air. But thus to die alone, 
to hll an unknown and forgotten grave, with the sad 
murmurings of the Shenandoah chaunting its endless re- 
quiem around hib resting-place, and leave such evidence 
of coolness and christian fortitude in meeting the grim 
messenger face to face, is a kind of bravery before which 
that of the battlefield pales into insignificance. 

Sergeant Hart, our color bearer, was shot in the arm 
while going down the bank. Adjutant McCracken 
standing near by, relieved him of the flag and started 
across the river, but getting into deep water, was com- 
pelled to let it go in the rushing waters, in order to save 



12 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 8t 

himself. The flag however was recovered soon after, it 
having lodged in a fallen tree just below, and after be- 
ing borne through several other engagements, was sent to 
Columbus, where, a mere shred, it now hangs in the 
Arm and Trophy Department of the State. 

Why we were not supported in tliis engagement was 
always a mystery to us, unless our finding the enemy in 
force determined Gen, Wright that it would not be pru- 
dent to cross over more troops, and so issued the order 
for us to fill back. 

VVe found tlie 6th and 19th corps' drawn up in good 
shape, and as we marched through their lines, our little 
division did not present a very flattering appearance — as 
every man was wet "through and through," and gener- 
ally covered with mud, from climbing the clay river 
banks. We encamped under the shelter of a dense 
woods, just back from the river, and proceeded to dry 
our clothing, and get our guns and ammunition in con- 
dition for service. 

On the 19th, the 6th and 19th corps' mo\'ed off" in the di- 
rection of Washington, and we heard, that they had got 
up another scare at the capital. The next day after the 
departure of these troops, we again crossed the river 
higher up, at the regular ford, in a drenching rain storm ; 
we waded the river, which, at this point, was about two 
feet deep, and it was quite laughable to see some of the 
men attempt to keep dry. We went into camp just on 

[*7] 



82 i23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

the other side, remaining there until the next day, when 
we pushed on to Winchester. 

On the 24tli, about noon, signs of the enemy's ap- 
proach became evident, and our fv)rces were soon in 
position, and at 2 o'clock a fierce battle was once more 
raging around the valley city. I^'or several hours the 
field was fiercely contested, when, being overpowered on 
all sides, our troops were compelled to fUl back, saving 
all our trains, and taking with us the most of our wound- 
ed. It w iil be remembered that we were opposed by the 
same arnv, that we measured strength with over the same 
ground one month later, after being reinforced by the 
6th and 19th corps', with Oen. Sheridan c(mimanding. 
In this engagement the gallant Gen. Mulligan fell, fight- 
ing at the head of his division, just as the day was lost. 

No shoes or clotliing had. been issued to our men 
smce tlie Hunter raid, and many of our boys were still 
bare-foot, for such of them, that retreat, was simply ter- 
rible; many of them unable to walk upon their blood - 
clotted feet, were comjielled to fall out anil were taken 
prisoners, most of whom died afterwards from cruel 
treatment in Andersonville. We made a stand at Bunker 
Hill, holding the enemy in check until early next morn- 
ing, then fell back to Martinslmrg, skirmishing all the way. 
We held the town until all the military stores at this 
point, together with our siclv and wounded, had been put 
into cars and started .for Cumberland, on the Baltimore 
& Ohio Railroad; when with our train we fell back to 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFAMTRY. ^3 

Williamsport, fording the Potomac. On the morning of 
the 26th we pushed on through Sharpsburg, thence to 
Pleasant Valley, on to Harper's Ferry, where we again 
crossed the Potomac, and went into camp on the 28th 
at Hall Town, four miles distant. 

Thus in sixteen days had we, in our worn-out con- 
dition, many of the men without shoes or proper cloth- 
ing, fought in two severe engagements and marched one 
hundred and ninety miles. Here we made out clothing 
and i)ay rolls, and on July 30th, while issuing clothing 
to the men, received orders to march to the defense of 
the Capitol, and immediately started back into Mary- 
land. None who were on that march will soon forget 
the intense heat of that July day ; it is said that over 
one hundred of the army died from sun stroke, and 
many more were seriously effected. After marching 
around through Maryland for four or five days, it was 
discovered that the " Washington scare " had been over 
estimated, and on the 5th of August we went into camp 
at Monocacy, where our division was ordered out at 
sun-down to witness the execution of a deserter from the 
23d O. V. I., being the first and only time during the 
war that our regiment was called upon to witness such 
a scene. 



84 I23D OHIO VOLFNTEER INFRNTRV. 



CITArTKR VI r 



THE CAMPAIGN UNDER GENERAL SHERIDAN UP TO THE 

TIRJE THE REGIMENT WAS TRANSFERRED TO 

THE ARMY OF THE JAMES, INCLUDING 

THE BATTLES OF BERRVVILLE, 

OPEQUAN, fisher's HILL 

AND CEDAR 

CREEK. 

While the regiment was lying at Pleasant Valley, 
Gen. Sheridan assumed command of the entire depart- 
ment of West Virginia, which was hereafter to be called 
the Department of the Shenandoah. A new state of 
war-fare was now inaugurated. The Rebels of the 
beautiful valley were to be taught a lesson which they 
would never forget, and victor) was hereafter to perch up- 
on our banners. Everything now assumed an air of busi- 
ness and preparation; clothing and shoes, which were 
much needed by the men, were issued in abundance, and 
our boys again felt that ^m\i of confidence which is a 
sure prelude to success. On Monday, August 8th, we 
crossed the river at Harper's Ferry, and encamped on 



123U OHIO VOLUNTEEr; INFANTRY. 85 

the banks of the Shenandoah, near Hall-Town; re- 
maining there until the loth, when we again started up 
the valley; encamping at night near Berryville. The 
next day we marched up the river through a wild, pictur- 
esque region of country ; it was a very warm day, and 
the men suffered greatly for the want of water. We 
encamped about eighteen miles from our start of the 
morning. The next day we changed our direction to the 
right until we struck the valley pike at Midlletown, 
where we found that our cavalry had been pusliing the 
Rebels down the road from Martinsburg. We wjut into 
camp about three miles from Cedar Creek, and during 
the four days we remained here, our boys subsisted 
mainly upon " roasting ears," we having arrived just in 
time to help the good people of that section enjoy tliis 
luxury. On the evening of the :6th we received orders 
to move, and just before starting, Col. Wilson was taken 
very ill the result of an overdose of morphine, admin- 
istered by Surgeon Hyatt, and the command of the regi- 
ment devolved upon Capt. Chamberlin. We moved 
back to Winchester that night, and the next day we 
marched to Berryville. All this time Col. Wilson was 
very sick, and of course could receive but Utile care; 
but he was now taken to a farm-house near by, and 
every attention paid him possible. The Colonel finally 
recovered, though it was a long time before he was him- 
self again. 

On the 1 8th we moved back to a small place called 



S6 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Clifton, remaining there until the 20th ; on this day our 
regiment reported three liundre'l and sixty men and 
six officers for duty ; (.'aj)t. Kellogg, of (xjmpany E, 
and Lieut. Leonard, of (>)mi)any I), joining us that 
evening. 

The next morrjing the regiment went out as guard to 
a forage tjain, and while loading our wagons, heavy skir- 
mishing, with the occasional fning of artillery, was heard 
near by, and we huriied back to cam}), only to find it 
deserte<i. After c(;nsideral)le traveling, we found our 
proper phu e in the line of battle whi( h had been formed, 
and went to work building a breast work of rails, which 
we had to carry quite a distance. Early in the evening 
we move<l out to support a battery in our front, but as 
night came on the firing ceased, and about 11 o'clock a 
retrograde movement commenced in the direction of 
Harper's Ferry; and after marching about fourteeen 
miles, we came to the place where our troops were going 
into camp. Our brigade commander, who was with our 
regiment, had, in the darkness, lost the rest of his bri- 
gade, and we had the honor of escorting him around 
hunting for it. At last, in disgust, he told us to go into 
camp — where we had a mind to — an order which we 
very quickly obeyed. 

On the following morning skirmishing was again going 
on in our front, and before noon we were at work forti- 
fying, and by night our division was strongly en- 
trenched. 



I 



I25D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 87 

We remained here until the 2Sth, and during the first 
three days we were here a continuous roar of skirmish 
firing was going on along the whole line ; if a soldier 
from either side showed his head above his pile of rails, 
he was sure to be made a target of. The officers of our 
division tried to stop this kind of warfare, but with little 
effect, until the 25th, when the 123d was sent out out on 
the line in front of our brigade ; when by the exertion 
of our commanding officer, skirmish firing, which liad 
been almost continuous from both sides, was slopped by 
our regiment, antl when it was noticed by t!ie Reliels 
that we were not doing the usual amount of firing, they 
also ceased, and we were soon on easy terms with them, 
trading papers, coffee for tobacco, etc. 

Our example soon became generally adoi)ted, and 
firing ceased along the whole front. We were higlily 
com[)limented by Gen. Thoburne for tiie prompt manner 
in whi( h the nuisance was stopped. 

On the morning of the 27th it was discovered that the 
Rebels had abandoned their position, and wc received 
orders to be in readiness to move without baggage, and 
with three days rations, to last four days. Early on the 
28th, we started, but stopped near Charlestown, where we 
remained until September 3d. The time was occupied 
in making clothing and pay-rolls, and on the 31st of 
August, the regiment was mustered and received four 
months' pay. 

We broke camp early on the morning of September 



8S '• I23D OHIO VOLUNIEER INFANTRY. 

3(1, moving up the valley in thr.ee cohimns, the 6th corps 
having the right, tlie 19th corps the center, and Gen. 
Crook's command, to which we belonge(i, having the 
left. Our command reached Berryville, arriving about 
noon. Pi( kets were sent out, and l)eing attacked, our 
divison was sent forward to their support, in doing which 
our regiment, or six comjjanies of them, the others be- 
ing on picket, l)ecnme heavily engaged with a brigade of 
Rel)els, whom we run into a in cornfield almost before we 
were aware of their ])resence, Wc gave them three or 
four volleys, when they came charging down upon us 
and we • were for( ed to retire, loosing four killed and 
fifteen wounded. As soon as we reached our reserves 
our line was halted and we laid there on our arms all 
night, expecting the fight would be renewed in the morn- 
ing.. It rained most of the night, and was quite cold ; 
taking it all in all, we had a pretty rough night of it. 
Our corps was assigned its position on the line in the 
morning and commenced building " breast works, and 
right here we might say that these, like all the others 
we built during the war, were never fired over, it always 
being our privilege to be the attacking party. We re- 
mained here for some time, working on the fortifica- 
tions and doing picket duty. On the 7th, Lieut. Col. 
Kellogg came up and took command of the regiment, 
Capt. Chamberlin having been in command since August 

17th. 

The Colonel had been sick in hospital, and had quite 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 89 

an adventure while on his way from the ferry to the regi- 
ment, in company with a surgeon in charge of an' ambu- 
lance train, and without escort. All went well until 
within seven or eight miles of the army, when it now be- 
ing about 5 o'clock P. IM., they were suddenly pounced 
upon in front and rear by a gang of bushwhackers, under 
command of the redoubtable -'Mosby ;" fortunately the 
Colonel and Surgeon were pretty well ahead of the train, 
and the main body of the Rebels had came ou the road 
behind them, so putting spur to their horses, they dash- 
ed down the road, brushing the Rebs in their immediate 
pathway aside, and away up the pike at a break -neck 
speed they went, when in al)out twenty minutes, reach- 
ing a cavalry out-post. Col. Cellogg persuaded the Ser- 
geant in charge, with about twenty men, to go back with 
him and recapture the train. Flying over the ground, 
they were soon upon them, and going in with a yell, 
they scattered the ''Jonnies" in every direction, recov- 
ering the entire train before the Rebels could get it 
turned around and in shape to get away, thus saving 
to the government many thousands of dollars, and to the 
army a much needed train of ambulances. Had Col. 
Kellogg waited until a strong force of cavalry could have 
been secured, as most officers would have done, it would 
have been too late, and Mosby, with his plunder, well 
out of reach in the mountains. We now had a splendid 
army, and knew we could whip the Rebs at any time, 
and the wonder throughout the army was " why don't we 



90 1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

do it." We afterwards learned that Gen. Grant's orders 
were to avoid a decisive engagement if possible, as it 
would not do, at that time, for this army to suffer a 
defeat. 

Captain Shawhan joined the regiment on the 12th, 
and on the 15th, (^ol. Kellogg receiving a ''sick leave," 
went to his home, the command of the regiment again 
devolving upon Capt. Chamberlin. 

September i6th our army was visited by Gen. Grant, 
in order to confer in person with Gen. Sheridan. The 
General saw that all Gen. Sheridan wanted was permis- 
sion to strike — it was given in two words — ''go in" — 
and we went. 

The army was in motion before daylight on Monday 
the 19th, and before night closed upon us, the famous 
battle of " Opequan " was fought and won. We took 
the road in the direction of Winchester, tlie 6th and 19th 
corps' having the advance. Firing commenced as soon 
as we were fairly started, and increased in volume as we 
advanced, to that roar which indicates the heavy engage- 
ment. We reached the Perryville Pike where it crosses 
the Opequan Creek, about 10 o'clock A. ]\I , where 
we were held in reserve until about 2 o'clock P. 
M., when we were ordered up. We crossed the creek, 
and made our way along a narrow, woody gorge up to 
the front. 

The road was crowded with artillery, ammunition 
wagons, and ambulances, also with prisoners and 



I 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 9^ 

wounded men moving to the rear, in fact, it was so 
choked up that it was with chfficuUy we picked our way 
through the debris. 

We at length reached a ravine, in front of which was a 
narrow strip of woods, and along its southern edge a di- 
vision of the 19th corps was posted, and seemingly, 
heavily engaged. We were rapidly massed in column by 
brigade, with ours in front, and immediately moved for- 
ward, relieving this portion of the 19th corps, and as 
soon as they were massed and ready, the bugle sounded 
the advance, and we moved forward on the double- 
quick. Now commenced one of the most cxcitmg 
charges ever participated in by a large army; for over 
two miles we drove them, over stone fences, up hills and 
down ravines, until about 4 o'clock P. M., when, our 
cavalry getting on their flank, they, no longer making 
any stand, went flying down the valley with Averill's 
andMerritt's gallant riders in hot pursuit. The 123d 
was the first regiment over the fortifications and into the 
city of Winchester. We went into the fight with six offi- 
cers and one hundred and eighty-two men, losing seven 
men killed and three officers-Capt. Shawhan, Lieuten- 
ants Snyder and Johnson— and forty-two men wounded, 
receiving special praise from Gen. Thoburn, for our gal- 
lant conduct. 

In this truly great battle we captured nearly three 
thousand prisoners, five guns, and nine battle flags. Gen. 
Sheridan's dispatch announcing the victory, was, ''We 



92 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

have just sent them whirhng througli Winchester, and 
we are after them to-morrow. The army behaved splen- 
didly.'^ 

The next day we moved up the valley to Strasljurg ; 
where on the hills beyond, the Rebel army, in a naturally 
strong position, had fortified themselves, determined 
again to try the issue of battle. 

We were manuevered around some until the morning of 
the 2 2d, when the two divisions of our corps were 
moved back about three miles, where getting under cov- 
er, we changed our direction to the left, up the side of 
the mountain, and then silently stole towards the Rebel 
lines. We crept along the mountain until about 3 o'clock 
P. M., when getting squarely on their flank, our lines 
were formed for the charge, but while doing it we were 
discovered by the enemy, who immediately opened on 
us with shot and shell ; but it was too late, the order 
was at once issued, " Double-quick, charge! " and we 
were upon them before they could make any prepara- 
tions to receive us, capturing their artillery, and turning 
their left completely; we went sweeping down their 
breast-works, like the wind, every man yelling at the top 
of his voice ; at the same time that we charged them on 
their left, the 6th and 19th corps' attacked them in front:. 

Routed at every point they were soon in wild retreat, 
the ground being literally strewn with arms and accou- 
trements. The cavalry kept up the pursuit throughout 



12 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 9J 

the night, keeping the fleeing army on the jump for 
twenty five miles. 

The victory was complete — eleven hundred prisoners 
and sixteen pieces of artillery falling into our hands, and 
accomplished with but very little loss to us ; our regi- 
ment losing seven wounded. 

We bivouacked on our arms, where darkness overtook 
us, being completely tired out with the day's work. Here 
occurred one of those accidents, which, from its sheer 
needlessless, caused a cold shudder to run over all. The 
34th Massachusetts of our brigade, camped in our imme- 
diate vicinity, and while all was bustle and confusion, 
their Major, was shot by the accidental discharge of a 
musket, at the time, he was standing with a group of offi- 
cers around a hastily constructed camp-fire. 

It seemed hard, that after having gallantly and safely 
passed through so much hard fighting, thus to be strick- 
en down, while quietly discussing the day's battle. 

\\\ the morning the army pushed rapidly forward, 
leaving our brigade to collect the debris, care for the 
prisoners and wounded and bury the dead. 

At 10 o'clock A. M., on the 24th, we moved on after 
the aruiy, through Woodstock, Edinburg and Mt. Jack- 
son, going into cam[) two miles beyond, miking a twen- 
ty-seven mile march; pretty gt)od considering that the 
regiment marched on the flank of the train all day, and 
until 10 o'clock P. M., through brush, over fences, up 
and down hills, and sometimes fording streams, causing 



94 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER iNFANtRY. 

every one to feel s^lad when the order came to go into 
camp wherever a good place could be found. 

The next morning we went on through New Market, 
where we wandered around some over the ground, of our 
fight here of May 15th. Tiie trees and fences plainly 
giving evidence of the terrible musketry fire on that day. 
Resuming our march we went on through Harrisonburg, 
where we found the arm)' encampeil. 

Wliile here we made out '' Muster and Pay-Rolls," and 
straightened up our papers generally. The regiment had 
two hundred and fifty ei2:ht men, and fiur officers for 
duty, Capt. Chamberlin in command, with Lieutenants 
Husted, Bevington and Keyes under him. 

On October 4th Lieut. Meiggs, of Gen. Sheridan's 
staff, was bushwhacked while making observations of the 
roads in our vicinity, in retaliation for which, Sheridan 
ordered that every house and barn within five miles of 
the murder should be burned to the ground. This order 
was afterwards revoked, so far as the little town of Day- 
ton was concerned, which came within the prescribed 
limits. 

On the 6th of October we again broke camp, and start- 
ed back down the valley. Our brigade was in the rear 
of the infantry, and directly behind us came the cavalry, 
who had orders to destroy all barns, stacks of grain, and 
everything that could support a Rebel Army. The 
smoke that filled the valley as far as we could see to the 



12 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 95 

rear, was conclusive proof that the order was being exe- 
cuted to the letter. 

We reached Cedar Creek on the nth and went into 
camp on the east side, taking our position on the left ot 
the 19th corps, and here we held our first election, in 
accordance with tl^e kiw, allowing soldiers in the field to 
vote. Col. Kellogg and Capt. Kellogg came up just in 
time to exercise their elective franchise. Capt Cham- 
berlin, who had ably commanded the regiment since the 
15th of September, was now relieved, and Lieut. Col. 
Kellogg assumed command. Wc were all glad to see 
his genial phiz once more for all knew him, the kind, 
true friend, the brave and accomplished officer. 

We now had six officers in the line for duty, more than 
at any other time since the Hunter Kaid. 

On the 13th our entire regiment went on ijicket, a por- 
tion of the line being across the creek, when, to the sur- 
prise of every one, the enemy opened fire from a masked 
battery, and shelled our camp for about two hours, 
when the ist and 3d brigades of our division were sent 
out to look into the matter. They soon found the Rebels 
in strong force, when orders were sent for the brigade., 
to return, but the Adjutant General, after having deliv- 
ered the order to the 3d brigade, had his horse shot un- 
der him, and failing to give the order to our brigade, 
they kept on advancing, until the)- were heavily engaged, 
and very soon were forced back, being overpowered by a 
greatly superior force. Our brigade lost heavily, Col. 



g6 1230 OrtlO VOLUNTEER INFANTRV. 

Wells, commanding, and his Adjutant General were 
killed and left on the field. Our picket-line was now 
changed to a skirmish-line, being reinforced by two corn- 
pan ys from the 1 1 6th O. V. I. We held our position firmly, 
and about midnight advanced a half mile, and found that 
the Rebels had f.dlen back. We laid here several days, 
doing picket and forage duty, receiving some reinforce- 
ments by men returning from hospitals. 

One day one hundred men were called for to go with 
a forage train. Every precaution was used, but the For- 
age Master thought there was no danger, and straying 
out of reach of our protecting Springfields, was gobbled 
up with one of his wagons by some bushwhackers, and 
started towards " Dixie's Land." 

The rest of the train, well loaded, reached camp about 
9 o'clock P. M., very tired, having traveled twenty-four 
miles over mountain roads. 

On the 1 8th of October the regiment, in conjunction 
\ViLh the nth Virginia, made a reconnoisance to within a 
half mile of tlie enemy's camp. We could plainly see 
them lying around under the trees, but nothing to indi- 
cate the movement that, on the morrow, was to startle 
the nation, and shake the army of the .^ henandoah to the 
very centre. 

At half past 4 on the morning of October 19th, the 
regiment was routed out by a straggling picket fire in 
our front ; the word was passed along that the enemy 
were advancing, and the men quietly fell into line along 



i2 3t) OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 97 

the breast-work. The other brigades, however, failed to 
observe the warning, or were too slow in " fill ling in." 
The Rebels easily tinned the right of our corps, getting 
over the works with little or no opposition, many of the 
men being still asleep in their tents. 

Some resistance, however, was made by our brigade, 
tlie only one in the division not surprised; we fell slowly 
back, the l)roken ranks of the other brigades, rallying 
upon our line; we soon came upon the 19th corps that, 
by this time had got into line, and, meeting their first 
division, we made a good stand, giving them several well 
directed volleys, that checked their advance, but soon 
being flanked on the left, were compelled again to give 
way; here our division commander, Gen. Thoburn, and 
his Adjutant Ot-neral, were killed. A running light was 
now kept up for about four miles, when meeting the 6th 
corps drawn up in line, with their artillery in position, 
the retreat was ehecked. The 19th corps took position 
on their left, our corps joining their's, with a good body 
of cavalry on our left. Up to this hour it had been the 
darkest day of our army life ; flushed with victory in two 
great battles within a month, supposing ourselves invin- 
cible against anything in the valley, thus to be driven 
almost in a rout from our works, was a little too much 
for our philosoj^iy. But now retreat was no longer 
thouglit of; (icn. Wright of the 6th corps had our lines 
well established, and the enemy decidedly checked, when 
Gen. Sheridan arrived on the field, he having riden from 



98 1-3^ *^"'*^ VOT.UNTEER INFANTRY. 

Winf liester, " Twenty miles away," since tlie battle 
commenced. New life seemed at once to animate the 
whole army. Some slight changes were made in the line, 
particularly with the caxalry — when the order was given, 
'^ Forward along the line," and away we went, with a 
heavy line of skirmishers, armed with repeating rilies, 
supported by strong lines of infantry, against whose 
steady and determined advance there was no resistance. 
In less than an hour the Rebel horde was flying back over 
the gr )und they hid so lately tr.i versed, llushed with suc- 
cess. The c:avalry now swoojjed down fiom their posi- 
tions, on the right and on the left, and as the enemy's 
lines were turned, and in wild retreat, the scene that en- 
sued along that valley pike beggars description. 

Jt was a grand sight to see that army, lately shattered 
and stricken nigh unto annihilation, thus reform their 
columns and boldly mo\e out to the charge; in all the 
battles of the great rebellion, no parallel is presented. 
Back through our camps which they had swejA in the 
morning, the beaten Rebels ran, throwing away their 
guns and knapsacks, and everything that in any way im- 
peded their headlong Qight. 

The cavalry kept up the pursuit for sixteen miles, re- 
capturing all of our trains, and caj^uring the greater 
portion of their's. 

W^e stacked our muskets behind the works occupied in 
the morning, and slept that night, as we had fought that 
day, without food. 



12 3D OMIO VOLUNtEER INFANTRY. 90 

There is scarce a doubt that if we could have had two 
hours more of daylight, the Rebel army would have been 
totally annihilated, as it was we captured forty-nine 
pieces of artillery, besides retaking the ones taken from 
us in the morning, and over two thousand prisoners. 
Our loss was \'ery heavy, being over six thousand in 
killed and wounded ; that of the enemy being much 
less. The loss" in our regiment was one killed, fifteen 
wounded and thirteen missing. 

The change from the gloom of disaster that hung over 
our army in the morning, to complete and undisputed vic- 
tory in the evening, cannot easily be described. The 
rebellion for this portion of the confederacy was effectu- 
ally closed. And when we remember the armies, great 
and small, that have at different times marched up and 
down this famous valley ; the many hard fought battles 
for the mastery of its soil ; its importance in the great 
drama of the rebellion is plain. Here the sons of nearly 
every State in the Union are sleeping the last long 
sleep : some in burial places set apart for their repose, 
while many, many more, cjuietly rest in unmarked and 
forgotten graves, the victims of a wicked, cruel and un- 
called for attempt upon the life of the purest and best 
government upon the face of the earth. 

We encamped at night upon our old ground, but with- 
out tents, blankets or rations, the Rebels having made 
clean work of our camp, and as most of the men left their 
haversacks where they grasped their muskets, but very 



loo 1230 OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRV. 

few had anything to eat, though figluing hard from five 
in the morning till seven at night has a tendency to 
make one hungry. 

We changed our cam]) the next morning to a more 
sheltered one ; anything hut refreshed from our sleep on 
the cold, damp ground. 

In tlie course of a few days we (hew blankets, over- 
coats and some tents. Some of the ofticers rigged up 
quarters from pieces of old tents, wagon covers and old 
boards, not especially handsome ; but they answered to 
write in, and after a great battle tliere was always plenty 
of that to do. It was an army sa) ing that the trouble in 
fixing up ])apers after a great defeat was only exceeded by 
that occasioned by a great \ictory. 

We remained here for some time, doing nothing, as 
there was nothing to do. The valley was absolutely 
ours. 

-On the 28th, the army was paid off, and of course 
money was plenty, much to the satifaction of tlie suttlers, 
as well as the boys. 

On November 9th we moved back to near Kearnstown, 
about five miles from Winchester. It was here that 
" Little Phil " received his Major General's commission 
in the United States Army, just one month previous he 
having received a Brigadier-General's commission in the 
same, winning the one at Winchester, September 19th, 
and the other at Cedar Creek, October 19th. 

On the 1 6th of November we had dress-parade for the 



1230 OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY lOI 

first time since May ist. Over six months of hard field 
service, in which there was no room for parade or drill. 
We had borne our part in the engagements at New Mar- 
ket, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Snicker's Ferry, Winchester, 
Berry ville, Opequan, Fisher's Hill., and Cedar Creek, 
losing forty in killed, ninty-seven in wounded and twen- 
ty-four missing. Of officers we had one killed and four 
wounded, being one-half the number we had for duty at 
any one time. We had marched eleven hundred miles, 
and for the most part under a broiling sun and on short 
rations. 

On the 1 8th, our brigade was ordered to Opequan 
bridge, to guard the railroad at that point, where, on 
the 24th, we received our portion of the ten thousand 
Thanksgiving turkeys, sent by our noble State to her 
sons in the field. While remaining here it rained the 
most of the time, the weather being quite cold. 

December 1 4th, Adjutant McCracken returned to the 
regiment, and on the 17th, the officers of the brigade, 
with the band of the 34th Massachusetts came over to 
our headtpiarters, and a general good time was indulged 
in. Not, perhaps, in strict accordance with the views of 
the would-be reformers of this day, but, nevertheless, all 
were happy ; every one was congratulated on being 
alive, and fair fortune was invoked to continue propitious 
for each and every one. We had now made preparations 
for remaining here during the winter. The men had 
built good quarters out of logs, procured from the woods 



102 I23D OHIO VOLENTEER INFRNTRY. 

near at hand, and the officers had erected quite a house 
from similar material, when, on December i8th, orders 
came transfering our division to the army of the James, 
m front of Richmond. 



I23D 



OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 1 03 



CHAT PER VIII. 



FROM OPEQUAN BRIDGE TO THE SURRENDER OF LEE, IN- 
CLUDING hatcher's RUN AND HIGH BRIDGE. 

On the 19th of December we left our log cabins so la 
boriously constructed, with some regrets, and possibly 
with some hard words, but a soldier's life is one of obe- 
dience, and, in a few hours, our nice quarters at Ope luan 
were forgotten, and we were ready to build others as 
uncomplainingly as we had these, wherever our camp 
would be pitched. It was a drizzly, cold day, and for 
some unknown reason we were very slow in getting 
started. 

But at length, about 2 o'clock P. M., we wlmc all 
on board the cars aiid on our way to Washington, where 
we arrived early the next morning. In about two hours 
we embarked on board the steamer Keyport and started 
down the Potomac. 

We sailed under sealed orders, not knowing for a cer- 
tainty where we were going until after passing Fortress 



I04 1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Monroe, thougli our destination had been pretty well 
guessed. 

We experienced very rough weather while on the voy- 
age, and a great many of the men w^ere sea-sick, and 
we were coni{)elled to anrhor for the night off the Rhap- 
pahannock river, the steamer having four feet of water 
in the hold. It was a disgrace to our country thus to 
jeopardize the lives of men. We, of course, had no op- 
tion in the matter ; on this vessel we were to sail and that 
ended the matter; if the steamer had gone to the bot- 
tom with us — and it was a wonder that she did not — 
the verdict would have been as usual — a terrible loss of 
life, and no one to blame. But this was only one often 
thousand cases, where the men who were in the field, 
nobly battling for the nation's life, suffered through the 
wicked greed of gain in others. 

On the 2 2d we got underway early in the day, pas- 
sing Fortress Monroe on the right and " Rip Raps " on 
the left. 

Tlie angry waves dashing against their sides on thai 
icy December morning, caused them to appear anything 
but inviting spots to us, accustomed to soldiering among 
green hills and grassy hillsides. 

Early the next morning we disembarked at Jones 
Landing, near City Point, and marched about five miles 
in a northerly direction, taking our position in the line 
on the right of the 24th corps, to which we were now 
attached as the independent division, Gen. John W. 
Turner commanding. 



I 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. I05 

We passed a cold and sleepless night, there being 
about four inches of snow on the ground, and wood very 
scarce. 

Our train did not get up until nearly morning. The 
next morning we went to work on our camp in good 
earnest. From a wood, about a half mile distant, the 
men split out slabs and carried them, on their shoulders, 
notching them together in regular backwoods style, cov- 
ering them with their " dog -tents," making houses large 
enough to accommodate from six to eight men. 

They then built a hre place in each out of sticks laid 
up in cob-house fashion, plastering heavily with clay 
both on the inside and outside, and made ourselves cjuite 
comfortable for the winter. 

The weather was very disagreeable all through the 
months of January and February, raining or snowing 
nearly every day, keeping us in slush nearly all the time. 
Firing was constantly going on at the front, and durmg 
the day hearing cannonading was the regular order, but 
no .general engagement occurred during the winter. 
While here inspections were quite frequent, and very 
rigid, and great pains were taken with the appearance and 
discipline of the regiment. We were under arms and at 
the breast-works every morning at daybreak. Many 
promotions were made during the winter, Capt. Cham- 
berlin to Major, ist Lieutenants Davis, McCracken, 
Snyder and Bevington to Captains, and 2d Lieutenants 
Husted, Pumphrey, Sowers and Keyes to. ist Lieuten- 



Io6 I 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

ants. ' The last being soon after detailed on brigade 
staff. 

Captains Randolph, Rosenbaum and Robbins, and 
Lieutenants Davis, Acker and Boyce, joined the regi- 
ment, they having made their escape from " Rebel pris- 
ons " during the fall and winter, this being the first we 
had seen of them since the disastrous fight at Winchester, 
June 15th, 1863. 

wSometime in March we received a new stand of colors, 
our old ones being completely in ribbons, and Major 
Chamberlin going home on a leave of absence, took them 
with him to Ohio, and presented them to the Governor 
for safe keeping. 

About the middle of March everything began to as- 
sume a busy air throughout the army, and it was evident 
that military movements would soon begin. 

On the 25th our division received orders to be ready 
to move at an hours notice, and on the night of the 27th 
the orders came, and very shortly Ave were on the way, 
crossing the James River under cover of the darkness. We 
then struck off" to the rear of our works for a short dis- 
tance, and then away towards our left. All night long 
through that dense woods and pitchy darkness we slowly 
picked our way. The road was very muddy, and the 
march a tiresome one. We halted about 4 o'clock in the 
morning for a short rest. 

Snatching a hasty breakfast at 8 o'clock, we were 
again on the road, pushing on all day towards the left. 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. I07 

We now became aware that Sheridan was pressing the en- 
emy's right, and that we were probably on the way to 
reinforce him. 

On the morning of the 29th we reached the position 
assigned us in the vicinity of Hatcher's Run, and remain- 
ed quietly behind the works until the next day. 

Early in the morning we moved out beyond the en- 
trenchments, and immediately the crack of musketry 
announced that skirmishing had begun, but we steadily 
pressed them back, through the tangled woods and 
across creeks and gullies. About noon the rain com- 
menced falling in torents, making our advance very 
tedious. 

We stopped at night, and at once commenced fortify- 
ing our position. All next day the rain continued to 
pour, making it impossible for us to move our artillery, 
and we were compelled to remain idle. Early on the 
3Tst our division moved out to the attack, the regiment 
being on the skirmish line, were immediately under fire, 
and drov^e the enemy steadily back until within five 
hundred yards of their entrenched position on Hatcher's 
Run. Just before a halt was ordered, the regiment 
made a gallant charge, driving the Rebs from a point of 
timber, capturing some prisoners and gaini ng a very de- 
sirable position and maintained it against a heavy can- 
nonade and musketry fire throughout the day. As soon 
as night came on, we set to work building breast works, 
using rails and loose stones, and digging dirt with our 



Io8 1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

bayonets, we were very soon pretty strongly entrenched. 
We remained there all night, getting very little, if any, 
sleep. Firing commenced early in the morning and was 
kept up steadily through the day, no change, however, 
being made in our position. Now by all reason of fair- 
ness we certainly should have been relieved. We had 
been on severe duty for two days, sending many of our 
dead and wounded back to the rear, amply attesting the 
work we had done. We had cooked nothing to eat dur- 
the time, though the boys in the rear had sent us out hot 
coffee on several occasions. But Gen. Turner sent a 
special re([uest to Col. Kellogg, who had gallantly and 
in person commanded the line ; asking that he remain 
with his regiment, on the line, for another night. Of 
course his request was complied with. 

At day-break the grand movement was made along 
the whole line, that gave us Petersburg, and sent the 
Rebels broken and shattered from their last stronghold 
in Virginia. 

The advance was begun on our right, and as the cheers 
of our troops announced their success. Col. Kellogg be- 
came very anxious to lead his regiment against the works 
in our front. TavIcc he sent for permission before it 
came. * 

The regiment was all ready, and at the word, leaped 
over their rail pens and away for the enemies works, and 
with(nit a stop, over their defences, capturing several 
hundred prisonefs, two cannon and two battle flags. 



i23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 109 

One of these battle flags is still in possession of Col. 
Kellogg, at Norwalk, and the other is deposited with our 
own colors at the Capital. 

After our division had forced their lines at Hatcher's 
Run, we joined our corps, and pressing on after the 6th 
corps, swerving to the right and closing in on the enemy 
around Petersburg. Just at night, our division was 
selected by Gen. Gibbon, to carry b}' storm two large 
furts on the South of the city. 

We were soon formed in column by brigade, with our 
brigade in front. Company D, now the brigade sharp- 
shooters, were dei)loyed in front. At the order, our 
three l)rigades sprang forward to the charge at a right 
shoulder shift ; the sharp-shooters opened a rapid fire 
that was so well directed, that their guns were used with 
very poor effect. Without a stop the first fort was reach- 
ed, and after ten or fifteen minutes of desperate resis- 
tence was ours, 'I'he second one then fell with scarce a 
struggle. 

The roar of battle was now heard along the whole 
line, the enemy fighting bravely behind their works ; but 
at the close of that Sabl)ath evening we knew that the 
strength of the Rebellion was broken. 

During the night Petersburg and Richmond was evacu- 
ated, and the Rebel army in rapid retreat towards Oan- 
ville. J^arly in the morning we were in pursuit, taking 
the road towards Burkesville, along the South Side road. 
Gen. Ord being in command of our portion of the 



tlO 1230 OHIO VOLUNtEER INFANTRY. 

army. We marched to Burkesville, arriving there at 11 
o'clock on the night of the 5th, being square on Lee's 
flank, who was to the north of us and on the road to- 
wards Farmville. '1 lie army was completely jaded, hav- 
ing l)een on the march since early morning, and rest was 
imperatively demanded. The General, however, called 
for two picked regiments to go out and destroy the 
bridges that cross the Appomattox, near Farmville, and 
thus cut off the enemy's retreat in that direction. 'I'he 
123d Ohio and 54th Pennsylvania were selected, and 
with a scjuadron of the 4th Massachusetts cavalry, the 
whole under command of Gen. Theodore Read, at once 
started. They met the head of Lee's army near the 
point designated, and at once bravely attacked them. 

Col. Kellogg was in command of the infantry, Gen. 
Read being away with the cavalry on a reconnois- 
sance. 

Deploying a heavy line of skirmishers, we stubbornly 
mantained our position, though against a largely superi- 
or force. After having repulsed them several times, 
Gen. Read, knowing we could not long withstand their 
rapidly increasing force, resolved to charge with his little 
band of cavalry, and endeavor to cut his way through to 
the main army. Gallantly that squadron rode to the as- 
sault, many of them destined never again to hear the 
buggle's call. The brave Read was killed, and eleven 
officers of his staff and cavalry killed or wounded. 

None of them succeeded in getting through, nor did 



i23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. lit 

ony of them return to us. Still we held our ground, and 
as the Rebels marched out beyond our flanks, more men 
were deployed, until finally, both regiments were a mere 
skirmish line. For several hours this unecjual contest 
was waged, till at last the boys began to get out of am- 
munition, and very soon that cry became general. 

Col. Kellogg, who had been hoping all along that the 
army would come to his rescue, now saw there was no 
use longer to resist, and ordered the line to fall back 
slowly and in as good order as possible, thinking that 
some of the command, at least, might escape through the 
woods. 

But as soon as they saw our line breaking back, they 
swooped down upon us in great force, and in few moments 
both regiments were prisoners. We lost a good many 
men in this engagement. Capt. Randolph was shot 
through the breast by a cavalryman, after having surren- 
dered. 

This gallant little fight of these two regiments received 
honorable mention by Gen. Grant, in his report of the 
war. He says thai their bra\'e and stubborn resistance 
at this point, checked Lee's retreat "long enough to ena- 
ble (ren. Ord to get up with his main force, compelling 
Lee to intrench himself, thus causing great delay in the 
enemy's movements. 

The regiment, or so many of them as did not make 
their escape after their capture, remained prisoners until 
Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House — a period of 



ii2 12 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

two days — but time enough for the Rebels to "go 
through " our boys, stripping them of everything vahiable, 
taking even their hats and slioes. In striking contrast to the 
treatment they received at our hands after llieir sur- 
render, when scarcely a Reb was allowed to start on his 
homeward tramp without a well-filled haversark and 
canteen. 

The regiment at once came back to the di\ ision, but 
in the treaty agreed upon, being counted as paroled 
prisoners, were ordered to report at Parole Camp, Ann- 
apolis as such. 

The Rebel Army of Northern Virginia had surrendered. 
And on that cpiiet Sabbath evening as the lightning Hash- 
ed the intelligence from city to hamlet, the church bells 
rang out the glad tidings over the free North, and the 
Nation thanked the God of battles that the end for which 
we h'ad suftered and struggled so long, had come. For 
four long years had these two mighty armies met in con- 
tiict and contested for the mastery. 

Their dead lie all along the valley from the Potomac 
to Lynchburg ; they are sleeping where they fell, at 
Antietam and Gettysburg, on the heights of Fredericks 
burgh, and through the dark thickets of the Wilderness. 
They lie in the dark forests' of the Peninsula all the way 
up to Deep Bottom, and around Petersburgh. Along 
the tangled morass near Hatcher's Run, and the Weldon 
Road, theii- graves mark the fierce conflict. Brave Old 
Army of the Potomac, long suftering, gallantly fighting, 



i23D OHIO VOLUNTEER iNFANtRY. ixj 

your reward has come; never again will the boasted army 
of Northern Virginia meet you in equal conflict; yours is 
the victory and '' fairly won." 



[*9] 



M4 ^-V> oifld VOLtJNl'KKR INI'AN'J'RV. 



CIIAPai^.li IX. 



FROM HATCHER S RUN TO 'I'HE MUSTER-OUT. 

On tlie T2lh of April the regiment left Appomattox for 
Lurkesville Junction, tlie road was fillefl with "johnnies" 
on their way liome, and the greater portion of them were 
lieartily glad that the war was oxer, even though tliey 
had to see the flag of the lost cause folded forever. 

The next morning we left the Junction on board a 
train of freight cars for City Point, fifty-two miles dis 
tant. At that place we first learned of the assassination, 
of President Pincoln. It excited the most profound 
grief among all to hear of his death, and in sue h a man- 
ner, just at the close, as it were, of the Clreat Rebellion. 
At first it seemed as though it was impossible for us to 
realize the truth of the repurt; but it l)tring confirmed by 
the War Deixirtment, we were reluctantly com[>elled to 
believe it. 

Our men were all greatly elated over the surrender of 
Lee and the probable termination of the war; which fact 
only seeme<l to cause a greater re\ulsion of feeling at the 
news of the death of our now lamented President. If he 



i^^i) OHiO VOtt/NfEfeR iNFAMRY. its 

could have been permitted to witness the final end of the 
great struggle through which we were passine^, in which 
we were endeavoring to sustain the power of our Rcpub 
lican form, of Government, and preserve our free institu- 
tions ; how gratifying it would have been to all con- 
cerned. But tliis was not to be. Nevertheless he passed 
away, " With malice toward none, but charity toward 
all." 

Just after leaving Burkesville we met Capt. Chamber- 
lin returnmg to the regiment from leave of absence, and 
Maj. Walker, Paymaster, who was on his way to the 
front to pay the troops in our division. 

At City Point the regiment embarked on a steamer for 
Annapolis, arriving there during the forenoon of the 17th, 
going into quarters at College Green Barracks, w4iere 
clothing was issued to the men, and they got cleaned up 
and rested ; and on the 21st, in pursuance of orders re- 
ceived to report at Camp Chase, we were loaded on a 
train of box cars, and started for Ohio by the way of the 
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, We moved very slowly, 
not exceeding eight miles an hour, passing Martinsburg 
on the 22d, Grafton on the 23d, Bellaire and Zanesville 
on the 24th, reaching Columbus at 9 o'clock P. M. that 
night. We went into quarters at Tod Barracks, and 
the next day we marched to Camp Chase, w^here we re- 
mained some time, awaiting the order for " muster out." 

On the 29th President IJncoln's funeral cortege reach- 
ed Columbus, on its way to Springfield, Illinois. One hun- 



tj() 12^D OHTO VOLUNTP-KR INFANTRV. 

(Ired and fifty men of our regiment were detailed as guard 
at tlie State House, wliile liis remains were lying there in 
state. All day long a constant procession was filing 
through the State House, to take a last view of our "de- 
parted Lincoln." 

The officers were now busy preparing iMuster-Rolls, 
and o.i the 30th tlie regiment was mustered. 

While in camp here, many of theotiticersand men visited 
their homes, all very anxious for the day of our Muster- 
out to arrive. 

On tlie 3Tst of Miy, it having been decided that we 
could no longer be considered paroled prisoners, arms 
were again issuerl to the men. This they objected to 
strongly, fearing that it was only a prelude to an order 
for duty at some other point ; and now, that the war was 
over, the regiment prefered going home to playing sol- 
dier at some post. 

Finally, on the 2d of June, a telegram was ]-ecived 
from the War Dejxirtment, ordering the 123d to be 
Mustered-out as soon as tlie necessary Rolls conld be 
])rei)ared. 

On the 12th, the rolls having been completed and ex- 
amined by the mustering officer, discharges filled out and 
signed, Company's A, 13, C, E, and G were mustered out 
and paid, and before night nearly alTof then) were on 
their way home. The remainder of the regiment was 
mustered out on the following day, and left for home ; 
Lieutenant H. Latimer Beck, 13th L. S. Infantry was the 



1 2 ^D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, 1 1 7 



mustering officer. Tiius, in a few moments, as it were, 
the ties that for three years had bound us together, were 
sundered. And while in each breast the heart throbs 
were beating to the music of "Home, Sweet Home ;" 
thronging memerories came trooping up from the past, 
of the manly forms who went with us to the field and fell 
by the wayside, of those who wasted in hospitals, or in 
Rebel Prison Pens. Alas! for them, the home circle must 
continue to mourn. And as gathered in groups abont the 
camp to say the last good-bye ; manly tears would • ome 
for those who were of our number once, but were now 
borne on the grand "muster-roll" in that other camping- 
ground. 

During <»ur three years of sevice, tlic regiment had 
marched two-thousand one hundred and eighty-four 
miles, had traveled by rail one thousand five hundred 
and thirty-one miles, and by boat one thousand and seven- 
teen miles. Making a grand total of five thousand seven 
hundred and thirty-two miles. 

The regiment, besides participating in many skir- 
mishes in the valley of minor importance, were in the 
following general engagements : 

Winchester, June 13th, i4tb and 15th, '63; New 
Market, May 15th, '64; Piedmont, June 5th, '64; 
Lynchburg, June 17th and 18th, '64; Snicker's 1-ord, 
July 19th, '64; Winchester, July 24th, '64; Berryville, 
September 3d, '64; Opequan, September 19th, '64; 
Fisher's Hill, September 22d, '64 ; Cedar Creek, Oc- 



ii8 

tober J9th, '64; Petersburg and Flatcher's Run, from 
March 30th to April 2d, 65, and High Bride or Farm- 
ville, April 6th, 65, a record of which any regiment may 
well be proud. 



I2sD OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. IT9 



CHAT'TER X 



PRISON LIFE FROM THE DIARY OF A CAPTAIN IN THE 
I23D OHIO VOLUNTEERS. 

After our surremlcr "on the luonuug of Jimc 15th, 
1863, to Col. Walker, commanding the f^unous -Old 
SloDCwall Brigade," we were taken to where the morn 
ing fight had taken ))laee, and were permitted to lie 
down and rest. After remaining there a couple of hours 
wc were marrhed nUo Winchester, halting there a few 
moments, and were then taken over to the Fort. A 
couple of tents were then put up for the accommodation 
of the commissioned officers, but which failed to prevent 
the wind from annoying us very much by blowing sand 
in from all directions. Wearied and worn out, and hav- 
ing eaten nothing during the day, we were compelled to 
lie down at night witliout even a - hard-tack " to re- 
fresh us. Next morning, about 9 o'clock, a few pounds 
of meat was distributed among us, shortly after which 
the oiftcers were separated from the enlisted men and 
marched over to the Court House. Late in the evening 
we received some bread and meat, but previously, Capt. 



120 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Chamberlin had receivedabaskctof provisions kindly tend- 
ered by some good Union loving Quaker ladies of the 
city, which he distributed among our officers, and for 
which they will ever hold those ladies in grateful re- 
membrance. The officers remained there until 4 o'clock 
P. M,, of the following day, when they were drawn up 
in line, the roll called, an<l after being supplied with 
blankets, our i)irty, consisting of une hundred and eight 
commissioned officers, started on our march to Rich- 
mond, under charge of Capt. Wingfield, 58th Va. (Con- 
federate), and his company. That evening we marched 
eleven miles, and laid down on the ground for the night 
about 10 o'clock. Thursday we marched twelve miles, 
lying by for three or four hours in the middle day, when 
flour and meat were issued to us, and we set to work bak- 
ing up our flour into cakes. The men overtook us here, 
but we were not allowed to communicate with them. 
It rained heavily in the afternoon, completely drenching 
us through, and at night we were obliged to take up our 
quarters in an old log stable, which was more thoroughly 
invested by fleas than was particularly pleasant or con- 
venient to us. Wet as we were, we laid down and at- 
tempted to gain a few hours repose, but alas, no 
chaifce for that desired boon. All night long the in- 
habitants of the stable could be heard visiting their mal- 
edictions on the fleas. The next day we marched nine- 
teen miles to Mt. Jackson, and took up our quarters for 
the night in the Rebel hospital buildings. On Saturday 



1 230 OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 12 1 

we marched sixteen miles to Lincoln Springs, where we 
had a pleasant place to camp for the night. On Sunday 
we marched twenty-one miles. C^ol. Wilson, x\djt. 
Blair, Capt. Rings, Capt. Chamberlin and Lieut. Pum- 
phrey, about noon hired a man, with a one-horse wagon, 
to haul them to Staunton, a distance of twenty-three 
miles, for which privilege each of them paid five dollars 
in Confederate money. And, if the man could have 
carried them, he would have had more jiassengers at the 
same price. 

On Monday noon we reached Staunton and remained 
there two hours, and then took the cars for Richmond, 
a distance of one hundred and thirty-six miles, which we 
passed over during the night, arriving at our destination 
about six o'clock A. M., June 23d. We were immedi- 
ately marched to the Libby Prison, where we were 
searched, and our rubber coats, blankets, etc. taken from 
us. The most of us managed to secrete our money, so 
that it was not discovered. They gave receipts for the 
money they did get, which assured us that it would be 
returned to us when released. The officials informed us 
we could draw it as we needed it ; which, afterwards, 
proved to be anything but true They even went so far 
as to take a few sheets of paper and envelopes from one 
of our officers. 

We were then taken up stairs, and introduced to 
our new quarters. The ''Hotel de Libby," as it was after- 
wards facetiously called, is a large brick building, one 



122 I 2 3D OHIO VOLENTEER JNERNTRY. 

hundred and fifty feet in length by one hundred and five 
feet in depth. Tt fronted on Cary and extended back to 
Canal street, immediately in the rear of which was the 
canal and James river. This l)uilding was, previous to 
the war, occupied byLibby <S: Son, who carried on in it 
their business as ship chandlers and groceis. Internally, 
it much resembled an Ohio grain ware-house, being 
three stories high, with a basement story underneath, 
and divided into three tiers of rooms, 'i'he lower room 
of the first tier was occupied by the various officers en- 
gaged in the control of the Prison. The two up[)cr 
rooms were, at the time of our arrival, used for the 
confinement of prisoners, and wc found there Col. 
Strcighl's connnand and a few others, amounting to thir- 
teen hundred and sixty officers. X)f the middle tier, one 
room was occupied by citizen prisoners and deserters 
from the Union army. The third tier was used as a 
hospital for Union officers. The basement contained a 
couple of cells, for the close confinement of prisoners ; 
the remainder of it was devoted to the use of the slaves 
employed about the premises. The attaclics of the Prison 
were as follows: Capt. Turner, commandant; Lieut. 
Latonche, his assistant, and, liy-the-way, the most oblig- 
ing official we had anything to do with — hispector Tur- 
ner being one of the most tyranical beings that ever lived, 
and had been a horse-jockey in one of the Northern 
cities previous to the war ; Ross, who attended to the 
roll, and was a deserter from the North ; George, fa ser- 



123 

geant) under lacke}', whose duty it Avas to communicate 
orders to the prisoners ; and Charley, a mulatto, who 
superintended the gang of darkeys in their labors. When 
we entered Libby, the upper one of the two rooms in 
which we were placed containe«i bunks, sufficient for 
those who were then in the Prison, while they used the 
lower one for cooking and eating purposes. 

We were obliged to take up our residence in the lower 
room and sleep on the floor at nights and use it to sit on 
in the day time, as we had no other seats furnished ex- 
cept stationary benches, at the tables. 

Shortly after taking up our lodgings there, we applied 
for some of our money, but we met with the reply that 
none of "the officers of Milroy's couunaud < ould have a 

d d cent." Nor did we get any from them until the 

ist of Ortobcr. We were also informed that we would 
not be allowed to purchase anything outside — as 
Straight's coumiand was then permitted to do — so we 
had to snuiggle our purchases through them for some 
time, until their orders were tacitly countermanded. — 
During the first four weeks, while subsisting on the ra- 
tions furnished, we were often glad to pick up crumbs 
from the table to satisfy our hunger. 

In speaking of the attaches of the prison, Gen. John- 
son, a gentleman of color, should be mentioned, al- 
though he was a prisoner, as well as ourselves. His duty 
consisted in supplying us with smoke, which he did 
every morning, carrying a skillet of burning tar through the 



124 I23DOHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

rooms, crying "Here's your nice smoke, without money 
or price." lie also collecteci the soiled clothes once a 
week, which he was permitted to take out to be washed, 
returning them Sunday mornings, at the small charge of 
three pieces for one dollar. He also, for some time, mo- 
nopolized the shaving and hair-cutting, which operations 
he performed at the moderate price of twenty-five cents 
for the former and seventy-live cents for the latter ; but 
he was finally superseded by an enterprising German 
Lieutenant, which compelled him to abandon this calling 
and take to that of "boot-black." The old fellow was a 
regular fixture there, having been in the Prison al)out two 
years. He was an old soldier also, having accompanied 
a Pennsylvania regiment through "^he Mexican war. 
Every morning at nine o'clock A. M. "George" made 
his appearance, and, witli his peculiar intonation of voice, 
would cry out : "Fall in, sick, and go down;" when 
those who wished to be prescribed for would huddle to- 
together and go down on the first floor, Avhere they were 
examined by the surgeon — who was spoken of as a kind 
and attentive physician — and, after making a minute of 
their cases, would send them back to their rooms, ex- 
cepting those whom it was deemed necessary to send to 
the hospital. In the course of two or three hours, the 
medicine would be brought up and distributed to the 
sick. 

Our enlisted men, prisoners of war who were so unfor- 
tunate as to become sick, suffered outrageously. They 



123D OHIO VOr<UNTEER INFANTRY. tafij 

were often allowed to lie in their tents on Belle Isle, on 
the wet ground, until the last moment, when they would 
be brought over to tlie hospital to breath their last. 

If a description of the truth would be fit for publica- 
tion, some few particular cases could be cited that would 
make any one shudder to think that there were, in this 
day and age of the world, men who were so lost to all 
feeling of humanity as to permit men, although their ene- 
mies, to languish and die through sufferings such as no 
pen should be called upon to describe. 

Once a squad of Yankees (prisoners) were leaving the 
Libby building with a supply of the "so-called " rations 
for the prisoners. It consisted of weak soup — better say 
soiled water — in old, dirty pails, and about six ounces of 
jjoor bread per man. We threw a few apples to them from 
the windows, which they received gladly and began to 
eat as if they were nearly starved. 

'I'he "Libby Burlescjue dVoui)e," as they announced 
in their |)rogramme Saturday morning, October 17th, 
1863, appeared for the last time that evening, owing to 
their having an engagement in Washington, for which 
puri)ose they expected to leave on tlie next " Flag of 
Truce Boat." They exhibited to a crowd of Yankees 
with one or two Rel)els included. The i)erformances 
were very good, considering tlie impromptu manner in 
which they were g(3tten up. Tliey consisted of songs, 
dances and the reading of the " Libby Ironical," which 



i26 i2JD OHIO VOLtJNf^l^R INFANtRY. 

was a burlesque on the ''Libby Chronicle," the weekly 
issue of which had been read the forenoon previous. 

During the hot weather of July and August, the variety 
displayed in the costume of the inmates of tlie Prison, 
was decidedly laughable. Mere you would see a man 
with nothing but drawers and shirt on, tliere one with 
drawers minus the shirt, while close by was another 
with the shirt minus the drawers, and then another one 
with nothing on but a linen coat (Raglan style), his 
clothes being out washing, no doubt. This style of dress 
was very comfortable during that kind of weather, but 
when the cold days of October came, it was rather un- 
])leasant to be cojnpelled to go around without socks or 
drawers and only one shirt, which valuable article we 
were obliged to dispense with occasionally for tlie purpose 
of having them washed. We had blankets enough during 
the warm weather, but when the cold nights set in, it was 
discovered that while some had an abundant supply, 
others had only one, and many had none at all. Re- 
peated complaints having been made to the Rebel offi- 
cials. Inspector Turner made his appearance one Sunday 
morning and proceeded to make a division of the house, 
putting prisoners in one room and blankets in the other. 
He then gave to each man as he passed back into the 
room, two old blankets (U. S.), but the supply not being 
sufficient to go around, the remainder of the men had to 
go without, and on aj^plication to the authorities we were 
informed that the}' had no more, and consequently could 



I23rJ Ot^lO VOLUNTKfeR it^FANTRV. t2J 

give us no more. The bedding and clothing furnished 
lo our sick in the hospital was supplied by the Untied 
States Sanitary Commission. 

The principal topic of conversation and excitement in 
Libby was the " Exchange Question." When we fust 
made our advent in that highly popular institution, it was 
certainly thought that wc would not possibly remain 
longer than ten days or two weeks. P>ut at the end of that 
time we were still there, the Commissioners not having 
met ; " but just as soon as they do meet we will be ex- 
changed sure, and go home by the first Truce boat." 
In this manner we consoled ourselves in our misfortune. 
Well, the Commissioners met, but did not agree. And 
tlie Rebel authorities then pubhshed a statement, that they 
had made a ])roposition to our ( Government, which was 
so j)lausible on its ilice that we thought it would be im- 
uiediately accepted, as a matter ot course, but something 
inter\ened to prevent the exchange. And so it went on, 
first one ruuKu-. arid then another; first would c(.nie the 
report that the surgeons and chaplains were going to 
leave on the next boat, and the officers were to follow 
immediately ; this statemetU would be directly suc- 
ceeded by the report that the Commissioners had disa- 
greed and there would be no more exchanges during the 
war. The next rejiort would come from the hos])ital, to 
the effect that a clerk in tlie War Department had just 
been to see a friend there and told him that a boat was 
up, and that the chaplains and some of the officers would 



taS 1230 OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

be exchanged. And so on without end, each day bring- 
ing some new sensation relative to the exchange (jucstion, 
and each one without foundation. Upon the arrival of 
any of these statements it would be followed by the 
vociferous cries of "get ready," "pack up," "pack 
up," from all parts of the house, while the inmates would 
soon gather in crowds to discuss the correctness of the 
report. One would be certain of its truth, for it came 
from a reliable gentleman ; the next would be a little 
doubtful, while the third one declared he would hardly 
believe we were exchanged even if Capt. Tuiner should 
come up himself and announce the fact. 

Lieut. Flick, for an attempt to bribe the guard and es- 
cape, was taken out and confined in the cell for some 
three weeks, then released and sent back auK^ng the 
officers. 

When we first entered Libby we could exchange our 
l^re'eN/'iWks for Confederate trash at the rate of two dol- 
lars of the latter for one of the former. In a short time 
they began to increase in value, until we were able to get 
seven and a half Confederate for one of Federal, at whicJi 
rate it ranged for a long time. At first the exchange of 
money was conducted through the sentinel stationed on 
guard at the stairway, but two or three having been ar- 
rested for so doing, put a stop to that manner of trans- 
acting business and another, but less dangerous, plan was 
adopted. One hundred dollars in greenbacks would be 
be raised and sent out by one of the negro boys belong- 



i2iTi OHIO VQwmtm tkFANfRV. 139 

ing to the establishment, whd Wotild exchange it with 
some citizen, and bring ns back seven liundred and fifty 
dollars in Confederate rags, wliich was the only kind of 
currency we could use in the purcliase of provisions. 

I'he following is the list of officers from our regiment 
who were captured at Winchester and confined in Libby: 
Col. W. T. Wilson, Lt. Col. H. B. Hunter, Adjt. Blair, 
Capts. Riggs, Caldwell, Robbins, Rosenbaum, Randolph, 
Bender and Chamberlin ; Lieuts. Davis, Smith, Beving- 
ton, Schuyler, Puinphrey, Breckenridge, Sowers, Colver, 
Williams, Acker and Boyce, making twenty-one in all. 
'Hie enlisted men were taken to Belle Isle, confined 
there about thiee weeks, when they were paroled and 
sent North. 

On October 7th, the chaplains were aroused early in 
the morning, marched to the boat, and then taken down 
the James river to City Point, where they met the Flag 
of Truce boat, and went North. They were all ver}' 
mu< h elated, except Chajjlain McCabe, of the 1 2 2d Ohio, 
who, on account of poor liealth, was obliged to wait for 
the next boat. 

On the nth a meeting of the Ohio and Pennsylvania 
otiicerc was held for the purpose of making the necessary 
arrangements preparatory to holding our election. On 
the 13th election was held. At tlie Pennsylvania polls 
Curtin received a large majority. And at the Ohio polls 
one hundred and sixty-three votes were cast — one hun- 

[*,o] 



i;^d 1230 OtriO VOLUNTKKR INF'ANTRV. 

dred and sixty-two fOr Broiigh and one for Jewett. 
Three Ohio officers refused to vote. 

On the 1 6th we were notified by the Rebel authorities 
that they would only furnish us twenty-five dollars — Con- 
federate — per month out of our money in their posses- 
sion. This amount would not have furnislied potatoes 
for one week, at the rate we were paying for them, but 
as we were under Rebel authority, we of course, had to 
submit. 

Furnished with only a limited supply of Government 
rations, money taken from us, and only allowed in such 
small sums that it really amounted to nothing, caused us 
to think that perhaps they meant to starve us. Rich- 
mond daily papers were constantly complaining about 
their government feeding so many Yankees there: and one 
paper advised the authorities to confiscate the boxes of 
clothing and provisions that were sent us Ijy our friends 
in the North. 

On the 19th the Right Rev. Bishop Magill (Roman 
Catholic) preached to the officers in Libby. On the jolh 
quite a large number of boxes, for officers, from their 
friends in the North, arrived and were distributed. A 
few greenbacks were ingeniously concealed in some of 
the boxes and, fortunately, escaped the searcli of the 
examing officers. Notices were posted, informing us 
that there would be, hereafter, roll-call twice a day — at 
7:30 A. M. and 5:00 P. M. — and that five minutes would 
be allowed each time to '4all in;" officers not in line 



t23t) ofiio Volunteer Infa^trV. 13! 

then "would be punished accordingly." Also, that if 
"spitting on the floor" and "throwing apple cores in the 
spit -boxes" were not stopped, the purchase of tobacco 
and apples would be prohibited. We received letters 
from the regiment on the 21st, being the first since we 
were captured. 

'I'he Rebels had some sugar in hogsheads, stored in 
the ware -house, nearly opposite the Libb)', where some 
of our enlisted men were confined. The men were in 
llie second story, the sugar in the first. On the 24th it 
was discovered that the sugar had been too tempting for 
the boys, and that they had appropriated some seven or 
eight hogsheads to their own use, amounting to some 
twenty thousand dollars of their money. As a matter of 
course, the remainder was immediately moved out of the 
reach of the half starved Yankees, 

On the 25th a letter was found, puri)orting to be from 
a Michigan surgeon to Capt. Turner, asking for a blanket, 
in which he stated that, uutler other circumstances, he 
would rather be a friend to the South than an enemy, 
A drumdiead court-martial was immediately convened, 
the culprit brouglit forward, and confronted with the let- 
ter. It appeared, on examination, that he was guilty of 
writing the letter, but that he was a loyal man and, suf- 
fering very much for the want of a blanket, had taken 
this method to procure one. He was permitted to go 
unmolested, as he had not succeeded in his attempt to 
deceive our humane captors. 



M:ij. Huston, who harl been in the hospital for some 
time, and was a tailor by trade, was employed by the 
Rebel surgeon to repair his uniform for him, which he 
did, but, when completed, instead of giving it to the sur- 
geon, donned the uniform himself and, about dusk, he 
quietly walked out, passing himself off as the surgeon. 
He succeeded in passing the guards without any ditti- 
culty. 

This escape so alarmed the Rel)els that they took pos- 
session of the lower east room, again locating the officers' 
hospital in that room, nailed u]) tlie door i)etween that 
and the upper rooms, giving us the possession of the 
low^er, middle room, after taking the precaution to nail 
up the windows and double the guard on the outside of 
the building. For nearly forty-eight hours after the sick 
and wounded officers were l)rought to the building, the 
Rebels neither furnished them with rations nor blankets, 
but after dark, communication was opened with them, 
and they were furnished with blankets by us an<l a por- 
tion of our eatables. 

About midnight of the 25th a gun was fired by one of 
the guards, at which signal — premeditated no doubt, as 
no one was attempting to escape — there immediatel)' 
assembled in front of the prison two companies of infan- 
try and a small crowd of men with a howitzer. This w^as 
done very promptly, no doubt with the intention of in- 
timidating us Yankees inside. 

On the 26th we were put on bread and water. The 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 133 

reason assigned for this was the breaking open of the 
door into the hospital, but, most probably, the reason 
was the want of meat to furnish us with. 

During the last of this month the weather was very 
severe, our officers suffering much from the cold. We 
were allowed little or no fire, and the windows having no 
glass in them, the zephyrs had free access. Many of us 
had no underclothing, a number with only one blanket, 
and some without any. One morning the man "George," 
without any provocation, drew a revolver on one of the 
officers, when Lieut. Reed, 3rd Ohio, a wounded officer, 
told him he must not attempt that here. P'or this of- 
fence (?) Reed was taken down to the cell and kept 
there three days, the first night without any blanket 
whatever. 

On the 29 th of October some forty boxes and bales, 
from the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, were re- 
ceived at Libby ; also, about one hundred and fifty pri- 
vate boxes, for officers. The boxes from the Sanitary 
Commission were consigned to Gen. Dow, consisting of 
shirts, drawers, socks, handkerchiefs, and blankets. 
Those from the Christian Commission were consigned to 
Lieut. Randolph, 5th U. S. Artillery, the contents con- 
sisting of underclothing, reading matter, hams and 
liquors, the latter, no doubt, for hospital purposes. The 
articles were, probably, as well distributed as could be 
expected under the circumstances, excepting the hams 
and liquors, which were monopolized by a very few. 



134 1-3^ OH^O VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

On the 30th of October we learned that nine men, be- 
longing to our regiment, were still on Belle Isle, some of 
them wounded and all suffering very much. 

On November 2d, same of the officers received money 
from the Rebel authorities at the rate of five dollars Con- 
federate for one of greenbacks. A large number of pri- 
vate boxes also arrived and the next day Avere distributed ; 
six for the officers of the regiment, one of them from 
the sutler. So many boxes were arriving at this time that 
they were examined very briefly ; the principal object of 
the search being to ascertain whether there was any 
liquor concealed in them. Both money and lengthy let- 
ters were frequently so ingeniously concealed as to elude 
even a close scrutiny. They were usually secreted in 
cans of fruit or butter, and occasionally a can of whisky 
would pass labelled "peaches." 

On the 5th Gen. Dow went over to " Belle Isle " and 
issued to our men, confined there, the clothing consigned 
to his care by our Government. He reported their con- 
dition to be very destitute indeed, many being compelled 
to sleep on the bare ground Avithout any shelter over 
them. This sort of treatment, in the dead of Avinter and 
on a sandy island in the James river, Avas simply barba- 
rous. 

On the 7th a class in sword exercise Avas organized, 
and for a fcAv days nothing but the resounding clash of 
sticks, and the various commands Avere heard. But the 
novelty of the thing soon Avore aAvay, and this, like every 



I 2 3I> OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 1 35 

amusement gotten up to vvhile away our lonesome hours, 
was soon dropped. 

Large numbers of boxes arrived daily, their contents 
bemg distributed to the boys on "Belle Isle," by Union 
officers designated for that purpose. 

Gen. Dow occasionally entertained us with a lecture on 
— his favorite topic — Temperance. Corn bread was our 
regular rations; the Rebel authorities said they had noth- 
ing else to give us. 

November 8th the Rev. Dr. McCabe, of the city, 
preached to us in the afternoon, and the minstrels per- 
formed in the evening. A gun was fired by one of the 
guards during the night, the alarm given and the whole 
guard turned out to repel the expected outbreak, which, 
after all, was only a false alarm. 

On the J 2th the daily papers stated that the surgeons 
had been exchanged, whereupon everybody went to 
work writing long letters to l:)C secreted on the persons of 
the fortunate doctors, and in that way get them smug- 
gled through the "blockade." 

On the 13th several hundred enlisted men were sent to 
Danville, the Rebels beginning to fear that there were 
00 many Yankees in and about the city of Richmond. 
It did not make much difference to the boys, as they 
could hardly be treated any worse than they had been. 

On the 14th we had some beef issued to us for the first 
time in many days. Corn bread was our staple, and such 
stuff it was ; it looked as though the meal of which il was 



I3t> irj;D OHIO VOLL-XTEFR IXFANTRV. 

composed had been made by grinding the corn and the 
cob together, thus utihzing the whole ear. The com- 
pound \ras Kike«i in large sheets about three feet square 
and from three-fourths of an inch to three inches in 
thickness, and about the solidity of lead. Xo one ever 
atterapteiJ to dispute the fact that we received our full 
rations of '* bread by weight " during th<jse days. 

About this tiaie the nK>st exciting topic of conversa- 
tion was relative to allowing Rebel ministers of the Gos- 
pel to preach to us in Libby. It was decided, however, 

to allow them to do so. 

* 
On the morning of the 24th the surgeons were notified 

to be ready to leave in a few moments, as the Confeder- 
ate soldiers had arrive^l ; they were also ordered to dis- 
gorge the letters they had concealeii about their persons ; 
only a few of them, however, did so. We afterwards 
learned that they were searched down stairs, but with 
what result we did not learn. 

Letters were concealed about their persons in a variety 
of places ; in the lining of iiats, coats, pants and boots, 
under shoulder straps, bandaged around sore legs, twisted 
up in small wads, and carried loosely in the pockets, con- 
cealed in plugs of tobacco, loaves of bread, etc. 

Maj. AMiite, 67th Pennsylvania, hired a surgeon to let 
him go in his place, which he did. It being afterwards 
discovered — some Federal officer having di\'uJged the 
fact — ^notice of it was telegraphed to City Point. The 
Major was stopped, and we were notified that unless we 



125D OHIO VOLUNTEER rSTAXTF.Y. I37 

designated the surgeon left behind, oar rations would be 
stopped. Some craren-hearUd coward pointed him out. 
The next day Major A\Tiite iras brought back, but Yi2& 
not punished. 

And such was hfe in Libby. It was not safe to trust 
any-one, save your most intimate friends and acquaintan- 
ces. Volumes might be written of the brave things 
that were done in that terrible place, and then, again, of 
mean and cowardly things, done by men. whom at home 
were brave men and gentlemen. The only wonder is 
that every spark of nianhood was not utterly crushed out 
of those so unfortunate as to be confined within its walls. 
Modem warfare presents no [larallel in the treatment of 
prisoners, as devisel and perpetrated by the chivahic 
gentlemen who managed the affairs of the so-calle«i - -Con- 
federacy." 

But enough has been told to con\-ey some idea of our 
condition while prisoners — the many hopes deferred ! 
the long, weary waiting, that made the heart sick nigh 
unto death. 

It is needless to fu fficers and men to other 

prisons, where many of them were sent, when our forces 
got in close proximity to Richmond- It would be the 
same old story, in some cases, perhaps, a little more re- 
volting, but in the main, one Rebel prison was a sample 
of all the rest. 

One thing more that should be mentioned in connec- 
tion with our life in Libby: On the 6th of July, 1S63, 



138 

all the Federal captains, then m Prison, were ordered to 

fall in there were seventy-two in number. They were 

then taken down stairs, into a large, vacant room in the 
same building and formed in a hollow square, when Capt. 
Turner read an order from Gen. Winder, directing him 
to select, at once by lot, from among the Federal captams 
m his custody, two for iinniediafc execution ! Each cap- 
tains name was then called, and, when answered, a slip 
of paper, containing his name and regiment, Avas placed 
in a box. We were then given permission to select one 
of our chaplains, if wc desired, to draw out two names. 
We selected Father Gray, who, after offering up a prayer, 
with a trembling hand and tears standing in his eyes, 
drew out two slips and handed them to ^^aptain Turner. 
That moment was one of anxious suspense to those 
seventy two men who were awaiting the result. Capt. 
H. W. Sawyer, ist N. J. Cavalry, and Capt. Flinn, 51st 
Indiana, were the unfortunate men. We all thought, at 
that lime, that they would surely be executed. They 
were confined in the dungeon a fcAv days, and, our Gov- 
ernment taking prompt action in the matter, by holding 
Gen. Lee and Capt. Winder as hostages for our men, the 
rebels soon relaxed their rigor, and permitted them to 
come back with the other prisoners. 



139 



( J H ^ r> X E R XI 



MUSTER-OUT EOLLS, 



In making up these rolls great care has been exercised 
in endeavoring to have each name spelled correctly; that 
such a result has been attained is nut to be expected. 
Proper names are abitrary at best, and when the copy 
from which they are taken, passes through two or three 
hands, errors are very likely to occur. The following 
are copies of the original Muster Out Rolls of each com- 
pany: 



COMPANY A. 

CAPTAIN, 

J. VV. CHAMBERLIN. 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

None. 

2D LIEUTENANT,- 

JAMES B. PUMPHREY. 



SERGEANTS, 

Jacob P. Bear, Henry 8. Kaley, 

Jacob dinger, Francis M. Anderson. 



140 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



Daniel W. Nichols, 
John n. Ellis, 
David F. Demarest, 
Fernando Eyestonc, 



CORPORALS, 

Nathaniel L. Robinson, 
Levi Rir ken bach, 
David Baker, 
Lafayette M. Zcigler. 



MUSICIAN, 

Rufus W. Lundy. 



TEAMSTER. 

Abel S. Thompson. 



Bower, Jarvi^ W. 

CuLE, STErHAN C. 

Crites, William H. 
Davis, John 
Davis, Oeorge \V. 
Drum, Charles 1!. 
Empta(;e, Elijah G. 

EWARr, RoRER'l I,. 

Frost, Eli 
Haner, James G. 
Heckaihorn, Simeon C. 

HoVSINcnON, CiEORGE P. 

Inman, Welcom 
KiNti, Henry V. 
LoNc;, Hiram 
Mincer, David 
Parsons, Sidney N. 
SMirii, George B. 
Teal, Jacob 
Walter, William 



PivlVATES, 

Craigton, Rep:s J. 
Corwin, Abijah 
Cross, Basil N. 
Davis, Alexander 
I )eBai!ch, Adam 
DoRNE, Samcel 
Ellis, W^illiam M. 
Frost, Albert 
Gibson. David 
Harris, Francis M. 
Heckathorn, John ( ). 
Hunter, Albert 
Kemp, Isaac B. 
King, Charles M. 
Michaels, Isaac 
Xiebel, John H. 
Price, John W, 

SWITZER jA<t>B 

Van Buren, Ezra II. 
Wilcox, Luther L. 



Total, 56. 



DISCHARGED. 

Lieut. A. R. Ingerson, Corp. Thomas C. Thompson, 

1ST Serg. John C. Wentz, Corp. Stephen A. McKenzie, 

Corp. William H. Eyestone, 



Bates, Edward G. 



PRIVATES. 

Hildreth, William J. 



i\b nUhf vnUJN'i'KRR KNl-'ANTUV, 



U' 



InMak, Daniel H. 
Burnet, Thomas C. 
Kark. Henry \V. 



KENN£t)V, AaRON 

III NTER, Henry I. 
Klmmell, Rineer V 
Wilson, Ll\i L. 



Total, 14. 



TKANSFERED. 



Caki-. v. R. Dayis, 
Corf. Edwin P. Cozier, 
Leefer, Francis 
Neal, Barton ( >, 
Thompson, ]i.hn 



Serg, Joseph Roll 
Humbert, W. K. 
McMiLLER, Henry M. 
Par LEI, John 
TlIt»MP«,(.)N, Dayid' 



Total. 



.^ERl.. \V. F. BAS(tM 

Rubin-.dn, Franklin 
stan^rerry, Haryey 



RILLF.D ]N ACTION. 

Sero. David 1). Terry 
Smith, C.eorge 

SCEARs, JEDEDIAH 



'Jotal, 6. 



DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE. 



Serg. James H. Boroff 

RiF FEN KERRY, \V. S. 

Anderson, John S. 
Cross, John R. 
Haner. Edgar 
Miller, Thomas A. 
Price, Isaac 
Shannon, James 
SMirn, McKendree 
Wilkin, Jacob 



Keynolds, Beniamin M. 
EMERst)N, John 
Car< »thers, Alexander 
(Jregc;, James 
Ingerson, Ambrose 
Palmer, Henry 
Klmmell, Ezkkiel 
Smith. Reuben W. 

Sl'HFR, |oilN 
Wo(.D, SH.As 



Total, 20. 



DESERTED, 

Thomas Woodraugh. 



142 



23D OHIO VOLENTKER INFRNTRY. 



COMPANY B 



J. F. 



CAPTAIN, 

RANDOLPH. 



Eugene Smith. 
Ira L). Wells, 



SE ARGENTS, 

George A. Darke, 
Kdwanl L. Dusted, 
William Barhite. 



COKPOKALS, 

Samuel V>. Oaldvvell, Henry C. Rushton, 

Nelson Armstrong, Enoch 1... Birdsey*:-. 

Andrew S. Gilbert, John L. Smith, 

George Kutcdier. 



MUSICIANS. 

Joseph Sallabank, George Williams. 



TEAMSTER, 

Albert Burch, 



Alling, William 
Hlish, Albert 
Benfer, John Y, 
Bond, Orrin G. 
Hlish, Daniel 
Burns, Robert W. 
Belmont, Ernest 
Castle, Judson 
Castle, Jehiel 

CUMMINGS, \ViLLL\M. 

Douglass, William 
Elder, George D. 
Elliott, Edwin 
Ereund, Michael 
Fox, Amos 
Fox, Reuben 
Fox, Jordan 
Godfrey, Zerah 
Goodell, Emanuel 



H, 



PRIVATES, 

IsHAM, Charles 
Kutcher, Lewis. 
Lane, Solon. 
Eetiz, William. 
Lee, Noyes S. 
Miller, George 
Miller. Alfred W. 
Mann, William. 
Mogg, Uriah. 
Messeldine, Sylvanu-5 a, 
NvE, Albert. 
pRt»UTY, EMoiiY. 
Palliday, Franklin 
Rice, Lawrence 
Roe, Charles. 
Rutherford, Louis, 
Strickfather, Edward. 
Smith, Thompson. 
Stockmaster, Martin. 



I23t' OHIO VOLIJNTKER iNh'ANTRV. 



43 



Match, Palmer D. 
Hyde, Michael 
Hastings. John 
IloKFMAN, Philip A. 
Hoffman, Ezra H. 
Hill, William W. 
Harrison, Kbenezkr 15. 
Hicks, Hknrv C. 



Smith, Warner R. 
Slater, George W. 
Slater, William. 
Skinner, Benjamin 
Skinner, Alphonso 
Taylor, Anson. H. 
twiss, loren. 
Weiss. VicroR. 



F. 



Andrew, Charle- 



^intal, 55. 



IJusKiRK, George 
Wait, Ezra A. 

FisHER, JOSIAH R. 

Bowen, Ans< )N T. 
Cole, Irying 



DISCHARGED. 

Proutv, William R. 
Proutv, CuNroN. 
Reynolds, Charles H. 
Sparks, Riley. 
Waldron, Seymocr. 
T.itti.k, Francis, 



T(nal, 



TRANSFERRED. 

Cai'T. Horace Ivell<k;g, 
Lieut. Elmer E. Hcsied, 
EiEUi. U. F. Blair 
Smuti, Harrv E. 
Tho.mas, William H. 



Beverstock, Edwin I. 
Slater, John, 
WicKHAM, Frederick C. 
Williams, Edward H. 
Woodruff, A red. 



CjApp, Henry S. 



KILLED 
Lieut, Caleb D. Williams 
Conger, Elijah S. 
Keller, Leonard. 



'I'ntal, II 



IN ACTION. 
Schnebly-, Bower W\ 
SiULTs, Henry C. 
Williams, Benjamin H, 



Total, 



DIED 

Frith, George J. 
Bond, Stanley F, 
Evan 5, Richard 



WOUNDS OR DISEASE. 

Griggs, John L. 
Walter, Abisha W^ 
Barnhart, Malvern H. 



144 ts^b nUu) voUJNTF.K.k 1nj»'antrv, 

llOi.COMH, Henjamin 



Total, 9 



DESERTED. 

Elavard C. Savenach. 



MISSING. 

Spangler, Henry J. 



C O AI P A N V C . 

CAPTAIN, 

ABNEK SNYDKR. 

2D LIKUTENANr, 

FRANK A. BRKCEKNRIDGE. 



SERGEANTS. 

Seymour C. Lester, Marion Lester, 

Afin.ison AI. Frey, George A. Webster, 

Daniel J. Fink. 



G()KP(JRALS. 

Norman S. Tillotson. Joseph H. Rhode; 

William Carson, David R. Moore, 

Albert H. Wait, John W. Miller. 



■MUSICIANS. 

Clark Canfield. 



PRIVATES, 

Adams, Hi ram Miller, Samuel 

Baker, Nels(.n Mlngus, Charles 

Blanchard, Alberts. Moore, Oeori^e P. 

Blake, Lyman P. Odell, \Villl\m 

Beers, Nathan Phillips, John L. 

Bl rnham, W illiam L. Phillh^s, Franklin 

Carr, William Robinson, Napoleon 

Carson, Jacob Skinner, Wallace D. 



JtS^D OHIO VOLUNTEER il^FANTRY. 



US 



Cole, Orrin 
CoNKLiN, Willis H. 

DAV, WlISON 

Debow, Hugh 
Erecwell, Henry W. 
Erecwell, Charles 
Fay, Martin 
Frost, William H. 

GOODENOUGH, HENRV 

Grannis, Thomas 
Hemingway, Frederick 
Haun, Thomas 
Kennedy, John 
McKee, William 



Steel, Simon 
Steel, Jacob 
Snyder, Reuben 
Shephard, Lyman R, 
Springer, LoRiN S. 
Sifler, John 
Salsbury, John 
Sykes, Otis 
Seitter. Jacob 
TiLLOTsoN. Christopher E. 
Taylor, Cyris 
Waggoner, William 
White, Samuel 
Fairchild, John B. 



Total, 58. 



Caft. Charles C 
Smith, Augustus E. 
Miles, Philander 
liAKER, Addison 
Carpenter, Sidney 
FisK, George L. 

(iREEN, FliANKLlN 

MosiEK, Nelson S. 
bAscuM, Alfred 



DISCHARGED. 

Parmenter Lieut. Edgar Martin, 
Amadell, James 
Rainey, William H. 
CuRTiss, Romaine 
Clark, Patrick 
Miller, John 
Moore, Wilson > 
\Vhitmour, Hiram 
Murphy, JcniN 
Love land, Lafayetie 



Total, 



19. 



TRANSFERRED. 

Dennis H. Canfield. 



KILLED 



Decker, Orrey 



IN ACTION. 

Green, Crary 



DIED OF 

Simpson, Silas 
Garrison, Harvey E. 
Spencer, James 
Snyder, Josiah 



WOUNDS OR DISEASE. 
White, Lewis 
Coit, Eureka 
Nixon, Charles 
Steel, Levi J, 



[*ii] 



i4(> 



iz^b ot^io vowm%un iNi**ANtRV< 



Slv, Fernando 
LVN, Alonzo 



Baker, Hiram, 
HARKib, John 
Tow, John 



SiiELY, Thomas S. 
Wh-son, John R. 
Bec k:\vith, Marfin 



Total, 13. 



DESERTED. 



West, David J. 
Draper, David L. 
Shaw, William H. 
Turner, William J. 



Total 



> / 



C O M P A NY D . 



CAPTAIN, 

F. K. SHAVVHAN. 

1ST LIEUTENANT, 

JOHN W. LEONARD. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

DAVID millb:r. 



James C. Leahy, 
Thomas Parkin , 



SERGEANTS, 

Samuel Martin, 
John G. Reynolds, 
Francis M. Hart. 



John A. Heckman, 
Isaac Insley, 
Levi Keller, 



CORPORALS, 

Henry H. Pennington, 
Andrew Powell, 
John Burnside. 



lEAlviSTEK, 

Andrew Binckley, 



ABBOT IRVING 
BAKER JOHN T. 
BOWERSOX DAVID B. 



PRIVATES. 

BEAVER RUSSELL B. 
BEARD SELDEN M 
BONER WTLLIAIVi S. 



!«p OHKJ VmtiNtlBK i.^KANTRY* ii^4 



iJiSMOP DAVlD 
CRUSSLEY PETER A. 
CONRAD NATHAN B. 
CO UGH LIN JOHN 
DICE JOHN 
EVE WILLIAM H. 
ELENNERELIV. 
ORADV RICHMOND 
HAGUE DAVID 
KOCH HUBERl" 
LUNZWA\' S VI A ESTER 
LOCUST \VILLL\M 
MEYERS JOSEPH 
REYNOLDS WILI lAM U. 
SLOAT EDvVIN \ . 
STEVENS PITT 
VANCE WILLIAM 
VVERTZ JGHN 



CROSSLEY WILLIAM 
CARIGAN PETER 
CLARK JOHN L. 
DAVIDSON JVMES H. 
DUNN ARLLXGTON 
EARNER NOAH 
(iROEF SILAS W. 
HARRIS DAVID F. 
KEEPS THOMAS 
KERN WILLIAM I. B. 
L( JTT ALEX A N D E R H . 
MARTIN filDEON 
NAUGLE G. W. 
SHEETS FRANK 
SLOAT BYRON A. 
ULLMAN MATH I AS 
WAGuNLR tREDhRICK 
YOUNG THOMAS I. 



Total. 



57- 



DIi.CHAEKGD. 



LIEUT. 11. S. McKEE 

young john 
betpsamandus i. 
hartzell howard f. 
wentz james h. 
leitnek andrew j. 
mower daviu c. 
McDowell andkew 

KlC^HAKDSOiV CHARLES 
RLMMELL ALBERT 

Walsh Michael 
wheaton john 
hall david s. 
abbott lyma.n 
reeme daniele. 
usborn elias h, 



bolinger samuel 
burger james a. 
hock james 
kenan james 
kinney frederick w'. 
Moore benjamin w. 
rhoj»es daniel 

\MN8K1VER JAMES (i. 
WHEATON PATRICK S. 
BONER JOSEPH A. 
DELA PLANE BROWN 
HOOVER WILLIAM 
KINNEY BENTLEY L. 
J.A BOUNTY CHAUNCEY 
LI TZ JOHN N. 
MITTEN WILLIAM A. 

Total, 32. 



ilNNIS JOHN B. 



TRANSFERRED^ 

BILDtN^E WILLIAM fl. 



I4S l2,^t) OHIO VOLENtEER INFRNTRY. 

KILLED IN ACTION. 

WALL PHILLIP HAKTZELL JAMES 

HAINES GRAXVILLE K. IIAP.UIS SAMLEL A. 
KOBERTS CHARLES C. REi^N^OLDS HEXRY 

S\ V IJER WILLIAM H. SWARTZ PETEU 

WELLER HENRY 

Total. 9. 



DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE. 

ROOT HIRAM COE LEAXDER 

BENTLEY THOMAS H. GAMBLE SETH R. 

GILBERT SAMQEL M. HOOVER BEXJAMIX L 

evTElELD GEORGE LQZaDER EPHRAIM 

LIEHE JOSEPH POLE GABRIEL 

STAl'TER ISAAC SLOA^SE LEWIS 
LOREY OSCAR K. 

Total, 13. 



DESERTED. 

AUMACHER CHRIS. HUMMELL .JACOB 

BUITTOX JOSEPH B. SMITH DANIEL F. 

KIMBERLIX HENRY J. 

Total, 5. 



MISSING. 
BEARD OZRO R. 

COMPANV E 



CAPTAIN, 

DWIGHT KELLOGG. 

2D LIEUTENANT, 

C. H. SOWER«. 



SERGEANTS. 



Charles Long, Horace Lawrence, 

James VV. Reed, Edwin Snyder. 



I2 3T> OHIO VOLUNTEEF INFANTRY. 



149 



W. J. Williams. 
E. P. Snyder, 
Joseph Dignan, 



CORPORALS. 

Isaac Odell, 
Edwin Prumer, 
John Loader. 



MUSICIAN, 

Isaac Blackmorc. 



TEAMSTEF., 

William Stone. 



PRIVATES. 



ASHLEY CHARLES 
BURGE WILLIAM 
CASNER MOSES 
CATLIN HUDSON" 
COATS HENRY 
PEACLBE JAMES M. 
GIBSON HENRY 
GARRISON JOHN TV. 
HANKINSON ELIAS 
HUTCHINSON DAYID 
HOWELL RICHARD 
•JENKINS ALBERT 
LETTS PETER 
MOSIER YICTOR F. 
McQUAID JOHN 
PHILLIPS GEORGE 
REED FULTON 
VAIL LEMUEL 
WILLIAMS CHARLES 



BOYD FRANKLIN 
CASNER JEREMIAH 
CUNNINGHAM WARREN 
COWEN CHARLES S. 
DILDINE W. H. 
FANCHER YARN A P. 
GREGORY JAMES 
HALSEY JOHN 
HANSARD JOHN 
HAYNER RICHARD 
.lOIN^ER RALPH C. 
JOHNS ELEAZER 
MEAD DANIEL 
MOODY JAMES L. 
PALMER LUCIUS A. 
REED DAYID 
SALIERSHBNRYA. 
WILLIAMS W. B. 
ZIMMERMAN MATHIAS 

Total, 52. 



DISCHARGED. 
CAPT. SAMUEL W. REED BENNINGTON JAMES 



ANGEL JAMES 
ENSIGN JOHN 
JHORAM JOHN 
SMITH JAMES B. 



FULKERT MICHAEL 
HOLDEN ISAAC 
SACKBTT LAMBERT N. 
SWEETLAND LORENZO 



150 1230 OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

r^OWERS DWIl) TUCKER (4E0RGE W, 

SAJ-IERS ADOLPHTS ^VYRICK PERRY 

TISDALE CHARLES WILLIAMS B WID 

WHEATON JAMES ALDRICH MARTIN 

VAXLIX WILLARD C. 

Total. 10. 



TRANSFERRED. 
LIEUT. M. H. r^MITH THOMAS. WILLIAM 

KILLED IN ACTION. 

CASXER fiTEPHEX DUXN LAFAYETTE 

DORN JACOB BOGLE CHARLES 



DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE. 

OU^'N CALVIN DEXXISON HAMILTON 

hENNISOV ALEXANDEH DURGIN NICHOLAS 

HENDERSON NATHAN TV. REED JAMES B. 

REEDGRATTAN 8TAHT JOHN 

SHELBY FARLINGTON SHAFFER FREDERICK 

SH AMP THOMAS PIPHER GEORGE 

Total, 12. 



DESERTED. 
CASSEK JOHN C. HACKETT I. W. 



COMPANY F. 



CAPTAIN 

ALONZO ROBBINS. 



1ST LIEUTENANT, 

M. W. WILLOUGHBY. 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



T!?T 



2D LIEUTENANT, 

THOMAS W. BOYCE. 



SERGEANTS. 



Mo5es Allison, 
Samuel Hayman, 



William G. White, 
Alonzo N. Sawyer, 



Benjamin F. Willoughby. 



Nelson McFarland, 
Joseph P. Dry, 
Thomas Clark, 
William R. Willoughby 



CORPORALS. 

Arthur L. McBride, 
Eli Maskey, 
Jacob H. Miller, 
Frederick Blond. 



MUSICIANS. 

James B. Willoughby, Eli Smith. 

TEAMSTER, 

John Gephart. 



PRIVATES. 



BULr>', EEUBEIsT 
BOWSHER. NELSON 
BOLYARD, CHABLEF; 
CRAIG ROBERT, 
COWGILL, NELSON" 
COOK STEPHEN R. 
COVAL JAMES L. 
DOUGHERTY DWIGHT W. 
EKLEBBYRY. JOEL 
GIPSON WILLIAM A. 
HANLEY. SAMUEL 
HUFFORD GEORGE W. 
HUFFMAN. SIMON 
IRWIN, ROBERT 
LOTT PETER J. 
MELLON JACOB C. 
McLAIN M. 0. 
McJUNKIN E. W. 
MILLER JONAS W. 
McBANE SAMUEL 



BARELEY JOHN S. 
BOWSHER DAVID 
BOGART WILLIAM 
COPPLER. CHRISTIAN 
CHAMBERS, NICHOLAS 
CAYLOR, ABRAHAM 
DUNN EMERS. 
EWART ROBERT J. 
FRAZIER. THEODORE 
HEFFLEBOWER JACOP 
HESSER ALPHONSO D. 
HARRICK JAMES F. 
HENNESSY, PATRICK 
LEE. LAFAYETTE 
LI^s^DSEY ALLEN B. 
McLAIN ARCHY H. 
MASKEY JOSEPH 
MACKEY JOHN 
MACKEY GEORGE W. 
MILLER JOHN H. 



152 



I2^D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 



MTTr-HELL WILLIAM 
NOLL. LEVI 

OBEFU.IX MORRIS P. H. 
PERRINE HARVEY J. 
PUGH SAMUEL A. 
RAGOX HARVEY B. 
SMITH JEREMIAH A. 
ST ALTER DAVID 
SIMOXS HENRY L. 
STEVEXS ROBERT 
SPENCER WILLIAM 
VanDORNE ISAAC 
WASHBTRN. CORNELIC 
WHINNER Y JOSEPH 
WILLOrCHBY LEVI P. 
MASK 



NORTON JOHN C 
OLIYER CHARLES E. 1 
O'BRIEN JOHN 
PERRINE JOHN 
REARDON ALBERT P. 
SNYDER, EZRA 
SMITH AARON B. 
SEGAR. GEORGE 
SCOTT ORANGE J. 
SMITH. ANDREW 
SPENCER. EDWARD 
WOOD LI XG, LEY] 

S WILLIAMS. JOSEPH 
WHITE GEORGE G. 
YOUNG NATHAN D. 

EY. ELI 



Total. 89. 



DISCHARGED. 



CAPT. CURTIS BERRY 
GIPvSON JOEL W 
HAYMAN. JACOB 
COOK, JOSHUA 
BLOND, LEWIS 



KEYS, JOHN 
McCONNELL ROBERT N. 
FISHER WILLIAM H. 
CATH RIGHT. RICHARD 
OLIYER JAMES B. 

Total. 10. 



TRANSFERED. 
HEFFLEBOWER WM. H. HOUGH. HENRY 



KILLED IN ACTION. 



DUNN, SAMUEL 
SWIXEHART JOHN H. 
KIEHL CYRUS H. 



GILBREATH, DAYID 
HOLLY EDWIN R. 
MAURICE. WILLIAM 



MCDONALD, SAYAGE, 



Total, 7. 



DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE. 



LIEUT. J. H. GILL AM 
WILLIAMS, ADAM 



GIPSON MYRAM W. 
HULL, DAVID 



J2^T) OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. T53 



KRIECHBAUM, BExVJ. McLAIX, DAYID 

RUMMELL B. C. SXTDER JOHX 

ATWATER PETER 



Total 



DESERTED. 



MTTTE\'. LEWrs CORP'MAX, LEWIS 

LOWMASTER. HENRY BERRY THEODORE H. 



COMPANY G . 



CAPTAIN, 

OSWALD H. ROSENBAUM. 



SERGEANTS. 

Wesley B. Jennings, Martin L. Skillman, 

Myron E. Clemens, Augustus D. Garrett. 

CORPORALS. 

William H. Levering, Richard H. Timanus, 

Charles G. Knight, George B. Drake, 

Benjamin E. Deely, William P. Wheeler. 



MUSICIANS. 

William Jennings, William Allen. 



TEAMSTER, 

George R. McConnelly. 



PRIVATES. 



BUYER, LOUIS BUYER, XAPOLEOX 

BARXARI), LUTHER BARXARD HEXRY C. 

BROWX GEORGE X. BOGART. JAY 

BUCK ALBERT D. BURXS, JAMES 

BLOSIER, HEXRY • GLARK. MICHAEL 

CROSS, JAMES COXGER CORNELIUS D. 

DRAKE, BEXJAMIN FORRESTER, EDWIX 



154 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



FILLMORE. COXRAD 
(tROFF JOSEPH H. 
GOLDEX. WILLIAM 
HARPER. .TOHX 
H1NES,J0HX 
KEYES. THOMAS J. 
LUCE. LYMAX 
MrGOOKBY JOHX 
METC A L F, H A RRLSOX 
OEHM. WILLL\M 
RAAB. AUGUST 
REED. \VILLL\M 
STRAUSSER. ANDREW 
SAVENACK.IOHN R. 
SHESLEY, GEORGE 
THOMPSON. BENJAMIN 
WEBER. GEORGE 
ABBOTT. ORRIN 
MARTIN. JOSEPH 
TEACHOUT. MYRON 

YOUNO 



GROFF. JOSEPH 
GREENHO. GEORGE 
HEGENY. CHARLES 
HOWE, RICHARD 
HINES, GEORGE 
R'ELLY, WILLIAM 
LAUGHLIN, PATRICK 
MORGAN. WILLIAM 
NEILL. FOSTER 
PEARSON THOMAS 
RANSOM DELOS C 
.STOWE SAMUEL- E. 
STOCK LEY, GEORGE 
SHE RER. PETER 
STAHL. WILLI AM 
TUCKER. FREDERICK 
WAGER, MILO H. 
TEMPLE, HENRY 
MORROW. JOSEPH 
YANNATTA, FRANK 

IS, JAY A. 



Total, 69. 



DISCHARGED. 
1 ST LIEUT, r. B. COLTER 2d LIEUT. S. A J ONE SON 
^TFELE JOHN CANFIELD FRANK W 

VANTINE ALFRED C. BRUMM CHA_RLES 

CLATIN JOHN CHRISS, SOLOMON 

CHAMBERLAIN. WILLIAM DIPPEL MARTIN 

GILLEN CHARLES ^^-^Jf^^^^^X.^^f^^-'' 

LITTLEFIELD FRANK RBODA, CON RAD 

SIEDLE. ALBERT 

Total 



T5- 



TRANSFERRED. 
r.COBET GEORGE A. KEYES CHARLE-S M 

LBWfs ANDREW J. WALKER ALBERT L. 

HEADLEY BRYANT C. 



Total, 5. 



KILLED IN ACTION. 
GILLARD. WILLIAM OCKS, THEODORE 

OTT, ALBERT 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 1 55 



DIED OF WOUNDS OK DISEASE. 

CAPT. C. H. RICtCtS WEXTZ. JACOB 

DETLEFS, JACOB BROWN, SOLOMOX 

GOLDEN, GEORGE ROYT. JAMES 

HOrr. WILLIAM .rOHNSON" HENRY B. 

LAFERE JOHN McELWAIN JAMES 

McGOOKEY. BARNEY NEILL. THOMAS 

REED. J AM*ES W A RRE X G EO RG E A . 



Total, 17. 



DESERTED. 
LOCKLEY. ALBEE r 



COMPANY H 



CAPTAIN, 

VILL. R. DAVIS. 



^EARGENTS. 



Barnwelle B. Clark. John C. Derris, 

David L. Robinson, Frederick Staley, 

John Hamh'n. 



CORPORALS. 



Henry Cassel, John Q. Cnppen. 

Benjamin F. Koons, Jesse Hollingshead, 

Charles Valentine, Emanuel Keplingler, 

Simon Fralick, Jacob Ranck. 



MUSICIAN, 

George B. Morrison. 



PRIVATES. 



AMBROZIER. DANIEL ARNOLD. RICHARD 

ANDREWS, JOHN xVNDREWS. JAMES C 

ADAMS, JOHN B. BETTS, JOHN 

BETTS, JOSIAH BEISTLE. JAMES 



156 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



BEISTLE, JOHX H. 
BTJRKET, THOMAS 
CLARK, VICTOR D. 
DORISH, LOREXZO 
FAT, LEWIS 
FURST, CHRISTIAN 
HOUK, MICHAEL 
HAMLTX, ORRIN 
HAWKINS. SAMUEL 
KELLER, GEORGE 
LONGWELL, ASBIJRY 
MYERS WILLIAM 
MOORE. ANDREW 
PITEZEL. JOSHUA H. 
PORTER. JOHN 
REMPLE, WILLIAM 
SOLINGER, SAMUEL P. 
SNIDER. JOHN C. 
SHUPP. JONATHAN 
STA LEY, THOMAS P. 
SWISHER, SAMUEL R. 
YANGUNDY, THOMAS J 
WICKHAM, GEORGE W, 

ZBLLERS 



BECK, WILLIAM 
CULYER. JAMES 
CARRICK. AARON 
EYESTONE. GEORGE W. 
FRALICK. JOHN 
HENRY. ABRAM 
HAAS. CONRAD 
HANDLEY. PERRY 
JAQUETH, TILLSON 
KAYLOR, JOSEPH H. 
LOUDENSLAGER, FRANK 
MODERWELL. JAMES Q. 
OGDEN, LORIN 
PARK. ABRAHAM 
RANCK, LEWIS C. 
SNODGRASS, JOHN C. 
SHAFFER. JOHN 
SECKLER. DANIEL 
SHUPP, SAMUEL 
STRIKER. WILLIAM 
THATCHER. ORIN L. 
WALKER, THOMAS G. 
WALTER, JOHN 
, PHILLIP 



Total, 70. 



DISCHARGED. 



CAPT. JOHN NEWMAN 

CAPT. w. V. Mccracken 

2d LT. W. a. WILLIAMS 
TUSTISAM. ADAM 
BOARDNER, HUGH 
HECCART, ELI 
MILLER, LEYI L. 
PRICE, JOSEPH 
SHAFFER, GEORGE 



CAPT. D. S. CALDWELL 
IstLT. H. S. BEYINGTOX 
BURK, ROBERT 
OWILER, ELI 
GOWING. CHARLES S. 
LYNCH, LARRY 
NEWMAN, JACOB 
RITTENOUR, JOSEPH 1 
VALENTINE, GEORGE 



ZELNER, EDWIN 

Total, 19. 



TRANSFERRED. 

SNODGRASS, DAVID 



i2^b OHIO VOLUNTEER mFANTRY- 



157 



■ KILLED IN ACTION. 
KARRIGEK, CHAKLES F. 



DIED OF WOUNDS AND DISEASE. 



FRANKLI>r, HUMPHREY 
MEDAKY. CLEMENTS 
BETTS, DAVID 
UEVER, GEORGE 
GUN DRUM. JOSHUA 
HARTSKISS, JACOB 
HUMPHREY, JAMES 
MERRICK. GEORGE 
KOBERTS. DANIEL 



ANDRE W^S, prank; P. 
MATHERS, JOHN D. 
DURR, JOHN 
PAY, WILLIAM L. 
HURST. GEORGE 
HOLM AN, PETER 
MYERS. JOHN C. 
RICHARDS, HOSEA 
STALEY. JOSIAH 



VALENTINE, CHARLES E. 
Total, 19. 



DESERTED. 



AMBRUSTER, CHRISTIAN 

boarbner, samuel 
pralick, george w. 
hot ellin g. charles 
McDonald, james 



BLACKFORD, SHANNON 
BENNEHOFF, JOHN 
FRYER, LAFAYETTE 
KRIECHBAUM, ADAM 
PACKER. DAVID B. 



SNYDER, WILLIAM 



Total, II. 



MISSING, 
JOSEPH H. DUN LAP. 



COMPANY I. 



CAPTAIN, 

J. F. SCHUYLER. 



John H. Carpenter, 
Martin Adams, 



SERGEANTS. 

William Bartholomew, 
John VVickard, 
Isaac Sea volt. 



158 i»$h OtilO VOLVNtR^K il^^AN'l'SV, 

COKPORALSi 

KM Snyder, Jacob Ebright, 

Samuel B. Carpenter, John Veott, 

John F. Henry, Joseph P. Myers, 

James HilHs, Moses Heller. 

-MUSICIAN, 

Alexander G. Franklin. 



TEAMSTER, 

William Whittaker. 



PKIVATES. 



ALLEY, ADONIRAM 
BAKDETT, WILLIAM 
B0WMA2s, JACOB J. 
BACKEXSTOS, WILLIAM 
BOYEK, JOSIAU 
BARDETT, DAVID 
CLIXE. ALFKED 
COXLY, EKANKLIX M. 
DALE, SAMUEL 
DOE, CHANCE V A. 
FOX, JACOB J. 

ULXRY.XATtlAN 

aiLLlS, JOHN 
HuSTINER, SYL V ESTER 

KISER, ANDREW I 
KOOKEN. JEFFERSON 

HILLIS, DAVID 

MARVIN. THOMAS H. 

McDLELL, JAMES H. 

PAINTER, MICHAEL 

KICE, JOHN H. 

ROLLER. MICHAEL 

SPENCER, JOHN 

SHEELY, WILLIAM 

SIDELL, JOSEPH 

TODD, MICHAEL 

YORGLESONC, HENRV t 

YOUN^GKER, SAML EL 



ALBERT, JOHN F. 
BRECHEISEN, GEOROE 
BOWMAN, JOHN 
BOCKY, FRANKLIN 
CHILCOTE, JOSEPH L. 
CARLISLE, THEODORE G. 
GARY. HUGH M. 
CRABBS, WILLIAM 
DITTO. JACOB 
ENGLISH. JAMES \V. 
FINK, JOHN F. 
HUFFMAN. JOSEPH 
HUE FM AN . AN D R E W VV . 
JOHNSON. JOSEPH C. 
KISER, OLIVER P. 
LILLV. JAMES 
LANEY,0\VEN H. 
MALONY, THOMAS H. 
McKIBBIN, WRIGHT 
KO5SITTER, WILLIAM 
KOGERS, JOHN W. 
SHONTZ, HEN'RY 
SPENCER, JAMES 
SHELLEK, JOHN J. 
THOMPSON, DAVID 
UPDYKE,JOHN A 
WILLIS, IRA 
YOUXG JOHN W\ 



Total, 72. 



1251^ Oi^^O VOLUNTEER INfANTRV. 159 



DISCHARGED. 

CAPT. K. H. KIKKWOOl) 2i) LIEUT. G. D. ACKER 

DlLDl^E, HE^'KY H. (WLLAHAIn, WILLIAM 

CARSOX, SAMUEL S. ELLIOT, AUGUST C. 

MOSES. WILLIAM S McCLIXTOCK, THOMAS W 

SflAFFEK. JOH^' B. 
Total, 9. 



TRANSFERRED. 
ISO^XELL. MOSES ALUOTT.DAYID 



KILLED IN ACTION. 

BRINKLY, ABRAHAM ^Y. Fl^^L, ISAAC 
DEARY, WILLIAM EOX, WILLIAM H. 

MirniXER, ELI. 



DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE. 

GEAR, JOSEPH FREEZE. WILLIAM M. 

MAY, JAMES, W. MACHIInER. MARTIN W. 

ADAMS, GEORGE, \V. BOWMAX, WALTER P. 

CHAFPI^\ JAMES T. EBERSOLE, HEXRY 

HEXRY, WILLIAM B. MYERS, JOflX" H. 

McKEE, THOMAS H, 



DESERTED. 
COPP. J0H1\ J. McEWEN SAMUEL 



C O M P A N Y K 



CAPTAIN, 

B. F, BLAIR. 

I ST LIEUTENANT, 

CHARLES M. KFA^ES. 



i6o 



t23t) OHIO VOLUNTEER IKPANTRY, 



James Healv, 
[acob Wolff", 



SERCJEANTS. 

Thomas Robinson, 
Leonard Kissnev, 
William Fry. 



Mathew J. Gase, 
Michael Thorn, 
Charles Bang, 



CORPORALS. 

John Grant, 
James Crohan, 
Andrew Bleckley. 



MUSICIAN, 

John L. Smith. 



PRIVATES. 



AMES, DAYID S. 
BEl^LiiiK, W^ILLIAM 
BRUNO, B.\RXAK1> 
BUSSIXGEK, JOHN 
BKOWX. LEAXDER 
GRUMMELL, HEXKY 
GRUM M L:LL, FREDERICK 
MAOKETT, HEiS'RY 
IRYIXG, THOMAS. 
LC CI US, NICHOLAS 
MARYIN, GEORGE R. 
ROCK, AXTOX, 
SPITTLE, BEN J AMI X 
SWITZER, JACOB 
SCHAIB, JOSHUA 
SCHMIDT. BR UNO 
UTLEV, HIRAM 
WALSXER, GEORGE 

ZEXT, 



BAKER. JOHX T. 
BRITT, FR AXClS 
BEAVER. SOLOMOX. 
BEADLE, MART IX L. 
DUFFY, JAMES 
G AX G ^Y E R, STEPB E N 
IIIGGIXS, FR AXClS 
HUXTLY. OZTAS 
McGRADY, DAVID 
MOXTEE, WILLIAM 
MURPHY, GEORGE J. 
RAG OX, ANDREW L. 
SIMMOXS. CLIXTOX 
SCHXEIDER, MICHAEL 
SCHAUB, DAYIT) F. 
THOM, PETER 
WILCOX, PETER 
YOUXG, CHRISTOPHER C. 
LEONARD 

Total, 51. 



DISCHARGED. 



LsT LIEUT. R. B. FERRIS 
BOFF, IGNATIUS 
DONELLY ARTHUR 



SXYHER, CLEMENT 
DIETRICH, OSTERHOLD D. 
FOWLER, ALOXZO 



i-'jti otilo ^'OLvm'V.m ii^vauthv. 



ibi 



HAKTMaJS", SIMON 
.NUTTER, ISAAC 



LONG, JO ff 5 

rho:n'e, alhkrt w 



J K.\NSFERAED, 



buVCL. TilOAlAS w. 
ELDER, GEORUE I). 
HASTINGS. John 
ti EN N ESS V . VA T R 1 CE 
POLE. GABRIEL 



KNNIS, JoliS li. 
KLLLS. WILLlAii 
KYDE, MICHAKL 
HENRY. JOHN L. 
SAVENACH, EHVVARO 



Total, 10. 



K.1L1.F:U in ACilONJ. 
t^O^ VL E rO N , SAM LEE D. U< )NAElOE, AxN DRE SV 

DltD OF WOUNDS UK ULSEASI-:. 



«^AET. LEWIS ZIVIMER 
CAUL. JAMES 
LEY, JACOB 
bTRAUB, WILLIAM 



GOODSELL, JOSEPH 
HAAS. JACOB 
ROBINSON, JOHN 
SPICE, JACOB 

lotal. 8, 



DhSERTED. 



v.; CoNl^iJK, J«JHN 
AUSTIN, HENRY 
CONE LEY. PATRICK 
McKEE, RICHARD 
PEARL, PETER 



MORGAN. THi »i\iAS 
COST ELLO. WILLIAM 
CAUGHLIN, EDWARD 
MEENS, JAMES 
THOMPS( )N. JAMES 

rotal. io. 



ii^eld and Staff 



Colonel, 
W. T. WILSON. 



Lieutenant ("olonel. 

li. kello(;g. 

Surgeon, 
W. B. HVA'n\ 

AssisiaiU-Sur^eoii. 
N. B. BRisr.lNK. 

Adjutant. 

i:. K. iius'ii:b. 

Quarterma.->ier, 
K. H. BROWX. 



D1SCHAH(.M I). 



Li. ( ol. H. B. llnnlcr, Muj. A. B. Nortun, 

Surgeon O. I'enis, A^si. Surg. J. II. WilUam^, 

Cha'plain C. C Ferris, Dnun Alajor Wesley Holmes. 



TKANSKKKKtD. 

Atljulant W. V. McCracken. 



NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. 



St. Maj. G. H. Scoby, Q. M. St; E. H. Williams, 

Com. St. F. C. VVickham, Hos. Sd. E J Beversiock. 



PRINCIPAL MUSICIAN^. 

Edvvin F. Cozci, Dennis K. Cantield, 



TKANSFERRED. 

Sergcant-Major Benjamin F. Blair. 

aggkegaie. 
Total number mustered out ,,........ 641 



f23U OMiO VoLOnTEI/K INl'ANtPvT, I 6 



Total number discharged 1 63 

" " transferred 48 

" " killed in action 45 

" " died of wounds or disease 131 

" '" of deserters 44 

Total 107 ^ 



I lie foregoing shows the exact condition of the regi- 
ment, as exhibited by the inuster-uui at Columbus, 
Ohio, June 12th and J3thj 1S65. 



1^4 l?:3^' ^'^^^^ VOI.MNItfclK iNtANlKV. 



c H .-v p 'r K H X r I 



mim:i:i,i,ani<h>. 

Oil the niglil oT l)ct:en)lici 91I1. i.So_|. when ihc rcgi- 
uiem was being trvinspcjite*! l)\ rail from < )|»(:»|ii.iii liiiilgc. 
in llic N'allcy, lo Washinglon, on our way if join liic 
Arni\ u\ ilic Polomac, in front of Ri( hmond, l-'rivalc 
Silas Simpson, of Company C being on a tlai-cai- 
crowdeil witli men. laid down near ihc l)umj)er. and hav- 
ing, it is presumed. (iropped asleep ami fallen between the 
cars, met witli an instant death, no less than three trains 
passing over his bod\' bclore it was d ibcovered ih.aT he 
was missing. 

During the early part of our term ot ser\ i< e, the or 
ders were very strict in reference to individual foraging, 
and whene\er complaints were made .a headquarters by 
some Secesh citizen, thai some of the boys had been 
sdaughtering a l)eef of his, or perhaj>s a poor innoceni 
porker liad gone the wa\ of all the world, or, perchance, 
a box of honey, or a loaf of l)read, or a nice ham, was 
not to be found, then forthwith a guar(j must be sta- 
tioned around his house and the mens' quarters searched 



1 2 3D OHIO voluntei:r infantry, 165 

for the misSing articles The men generally received due 
and timely notice, and the articles Avere buried m some tent 
and a poor sick boy, that ronld not be m.oved, would be 
lying over it. The officers engaged in the search, would 
perhaps look in the tent and says, '* Boys, is any of that 
m.eat or honey here ?" They were never known to re- 
ceive an affirmative answer. Occasionally they would be 
caught in the act, as the following incident will testify: 
The regiment had just gone into camp on the bank of 
the Shenandoah, near Halltown, one hot day in August, 
j86.]. . The men were nearly all bathing in the liver, 
wlien they spied a field of corn on the opposite bank and 
immediately went fur it Two boys of Company A, each 
unadorned with an\- p.nlirular amount of clothing, and, 
having their arms fille'l witli roasting . ears, Avere caught 
by a cav^alry guard set there to watch the corn ; and \\ith 
nut their clothing, which was on the- other side, were 
marched to division hcad(|uarters ; from which place 
they were sent, through the regular channels, to regi- 
mental headquarters, with an order to have them " tied 
up by the thumbs." From there Col. VVilson sent iheni 
to company headquarters,, M'ith instructions to carrv out 
the order after night — the particular night not being 
specified. ^V'hy Capt. C. had plenty of corn for diimer 
is plain. 

After any of these depredations, should any of the 
officers discover next morning in their quarters, a nice 
steak, plate of honey or roll of butter, it was not deemed 



1 66 I 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

necessarv to institute a search to ser wher^ it camje from 
When we passed near Sewel) Mountain. »"eturning from 
the Lynchburg Kaid, Jui-h: 29th, 1864. one of the m.en 
caught a voung fawn and m.ade a present of it to the 
Colonf^l. A "hard tack" box was rigged up. the fawn 
put into !t an(i < onveyed on the back of a mule to (^amp 
Piatt ; from ther^^ it was taken, with the regiment to Mar- 
tmsburg. where it became a great favorite with the m.en, 
and was finally sent from, there to Ohio. 

At Winchester there were several Union families, one 
of ^vhom will always be remembered Avith hearts full of 
gratitude for their kindness to many oi our regiment. 
The members of that family who resided there during the 
war, consisted of an old Quaker gentleman. Mr. Sidwell, 
his wife, one son — a young m.an— and his two daughtetrS-, 
A_nna and Martha. When -vc were raptured there, on 
tlie 15th of June, 1863. and confined m the Court House, 
we were without anything to eat for thirty-six hours. 
Sending a note through one of our surgeons to Mr. 
Gidwell, he, m company with his wife, soon m.ade his 
appearances with a large l>asket of provisions, which was 
certainly a rich treat to us. The next morning the 
two daughters came with more supplies, and towels and 
soap, which afterwards proved of great use to us in Libby. 
During the whole war, from its commencement to the 
close, Winchester was hardly free from the conflict of 
battle for any length of time, changing hands rio less 
than seventy'three times, three times in one day. Thi* 



1 2 3D OHIO VOLENTEER INFRNTRY. iSj 



familv remained there the Avhole time, unable to get 
sway, the tAvo daughters making it a constant practice 
every day to visit the hospitals, and endeavor to amelio- 
rate the condition of our sick and wounded. There are 
several in the T.:;3d who will not soon forget thera and 
their acts of kindness. 
The following correspondence will explain itself: 

Camp of the 123D O. V, I. ) 

New Market Heights, Va., March ii. 1865 j^ 

Sir : — At the request of the commanding offlcer of 
the regiment. T have the pleasurr of presenting through 
you to the State of Ohio, the remnants of the colors car 
ried bv the i:!3d Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantr) 
during last surnm.er's cam.paign in th«^ Shenandoah Val- 
ley, Virginia. They Avere borne through the following 
engagements in Virginia: Newmarket, May 15th, 1864, 
Piedmont, Tune 5th: Lynchburg, June i8th; Snicker's 
Ferry, July I Sth ; Winchester, July 24th; Martinsburg, 
Julv 25th ; Berryville, "September 3d ; Winchester Sep- 
tem.ber 19th, Fisher's Hill, Septem.ber 22d; Cedar 
Creek, October iQth, 1864. Hoping that you will give 
them a place in the Arm and Trophy Department oi the 
State, I am with great respect 

Your most obedient servant 

Hon. John Brough, J. W. Chamberlin, 

Governor of Ohio. Capt. A Co. 123d O. V. L 

To Avhich (tov. Brough replied as follows : 



l6S I2 3r) OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

The State of Ohio Executive Department, "^ 
Columbus, March 24th. 1865. \ 

Maj. J. IK Chaynberlin, i2^d O. V. L 

Sir — Your fa^'or of the 15th instant has been handed 
me. accompanied by '' what remain:, of the colors of the 
r2 3d Regiment." The cufstody of these tattered flags is 
thankfully accepted on the part of the State, and they 
will be appropriately placed among other and similar 
mementoes of the patriotism, and courage of our soldiers 
•in this great struggle to sustain the Government and 
unity of the country. 

The ir^d Regiment presents a record highly honora- 
ble to its officers and men, awA ennobling ti^^ the vState. 
These records \\d\e given tn our State the high rank she 
now occupies m the annals of the war ; and they consti- 
tute one of the brightest pages in the history of this 
wicked Rebellion. Thanking you for the presentation 
tnudc by the regiment, 

I am very truly yours. 

John Brough. 

The first six months we were in the service we did a 
great amount of picket duty, and for men who were 
then *' spoiling for a fight," it was not gener.illy a very 
pleasant labor. Still, occasionally an incident would oc- 
( ur that would vary the monotony a little. One, that a 
few men will not soon forget, occurred while \vc were at 
Petersburg. A large detail from the regiment \vas on 
picket, and one of the captains — who had never officiated 



123© Q^-® VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 1 69 

a? ''Of^.ctr of the Day "-—was acting m that capacity on 
this occasion. When the hour at night came for - grand 
rounds" he started out on the Frankhn Pike. When 
Hearing the post he was ordered to haU, and to ^'dis- 
mount and advance one with the countersign." He 
obeyed, and with his sword drawn and at a carry, ad- 
vanced to the sentinel, whose authority he recognized by 
giving the salute, with drawn sword, due to a superior 
ofi^-cer. Soon After, Company C was picketing on the 
Moorefield road, when Gen. Milroy was returning in the 
ntght with an es« ort from iMoorefiekl, but without the 
countersign. He was halted, conipcUcd to dismount, 
and, notwithstanding his assertions that ''he was Gen. 
Milrov," was conducted to the " offtrei of the guard," 
who recognized him. officially before he. was permitted to 
pass. 

On the 19th oi October, 1864, when Sheridan gained 
his fam.ous victory at Cedar Creek, while {he infantry 
were lying down in two lines, waiting for the advance, 
which was soon made, and while the enemy were throw- 
ing solid shot just over us, an enterprising newsboy rpde 
up with tlic Baltimore American {or sale. He rode along 
slowly disposing of his papers, until a solid sliot struck 
Arery near his horse, when he turned his head to the rear 
and rode off with the remark that '' it was getting . too 
d — d hot for him there." 

Just after we had got fairly started on our Lynchburg 
raid, and when one day the men had got very tired of 



170 12^T) OHIO VOLUNTEF.K INFANTRY. 

carrying then one hundr<=d roundi^ of ;immunition each 
^nd Avere grumbhng much thereat, a cavalry officer rod* 
bv. and inqiiirmg n( one of nnr men, " What troops are 
these?" received the reply. " Troop''. ? Holl, ^h^^. i'^ 
Gen. Hunter's ammunition train !" 

When the Rcgim-^nt u-.v. lying at New Creek, Novem- 
ber, 1S62, Capt. Horace Kellogg. Avith his com.pany fB'). 
was ordered by (ren. Milroy to proceed at once to St. 
George, Tucker county, Virginia, and assess and collect 
enough monev from disloyal citizens to reimburse the 
loyal citizens of that place, who had been robbed bv 
guerrillas, frcn. Milroy's order was as follows ''If 
they do not pa)^ the amount you assess them., at the des- 
ignated tim.e. you will proceed to burn then huuses, seize 
their property and shoot .the men " As :.oon a? the com 
pany arrived at St. George, Capt. Kellogg found out who 
were the disloyal subjects, and proceeded to. issue circu- 
lars totheiTi, in accordance with Milroy's" orders. It is 
needless to say that the money was forthcoming. Five 
thousand dollars were collected and disbursed Co the Union 
men who had been despoiled of their property. 



COMPANY I). 

Inasmuch as Company D was away from the regiment 
on detached duty for a time, it may be interesting to give 
an outline of their doings while thus employed. 

Sometime during the month of May, 1865, Company 



I? 3^ C)HIO VOLUNTEER INFANtRV. 171 

D WIS ordered to report to Gen, Milroyfor duty. Capt= 
v*-^hawhan was appointed Provost Marshal, and liis compa- 
ny formed a part of the guard. Capt= Shawhan Avent to 
work at once in the perform.ance of the duties of his 
office, and made a very efficient officer. He soon 
had the cMy thoroughly cleaned, his men burning two 
kilns of lim.e ^'nd scattermg it thoroughly about, thereby 
contributm.g greatly m arrestmg the contagious diseases, 
that were rapidly turning the entire city into a general 
hospital. 

Some indiscrete young ladies insisted upon com.ing 
upon the street? Avearing gloves with ''Secesh" em.blem.s 
upon them., until three or four were arrested and put in 
the guard, hous'^. Thev soon sued for peit*^, and ever 
after there was no trouble m curbing the turbulent dispo- 
sitions of the most violent Secessionists. 

During the fight at Winchester, June 15th, 1S63, the 
rompany was busy guarding prisoners and getting out 
amm.unition for the artillery in the forts When the re 
treat com.menced they had orders tr> follow with then 
prisoners in the rear of the com.inand. They fell in with 
the first regiment they came to, the TT6th C. V. I, ; and 
when they came to where the battle was going on, that 
regiment was ordered to march right on to the Potomac 
river. They arrived at Orleans Station on the night of the 
T6th, where they drew rations. On the i8th they started 
for Cumberland, and when within ten niiles of that place 
they received orders to March into Pennsylvania, arriving 



172 12 3^ OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, 

at -'Bloody Run." where Alilroy's command was reor- 
ganized. Thcv remained there until July 4th, when, 
with Couch's Division of the 6th Corps, they f flowed 
after Lee':^ retreating army, until reaching Harper':. 
Ferry, when (^ompahy D was ordered to Martinsburg, 
arriving there August 4th. ^ 

The regiment was collected together here, with Maj. 
Kellogg m com-inand of the po9t, though r,till suffering 
much from his Avound. 

Again, after serving with the regimen! through the 
campaign in the Valley, about the middle of M^rch, 
7865, they were selected to form a pari of the corps of 
sharpshooters for our division. The boys did not much 
relish the idea of leaving the regiment again, but of 
course they had no option in the matter, and at once 
comm.cnced learning the use of their Spencer rifles. They 
did excellent service at Hatcher's run, losing several in 
killed and wounded. Again, at Fort Cncgg they were 
deployed in front of our brigade in making that assault, 
and by their rapid and well directed firing, assisted mate- 
rially in the capture of the fort, and were complimented 
by Col. Potter, our Brigade Commander, for their good 
conduct. Remaining with the division until after Fee 
surrendered, they then made the trip to Lynchburg. 
They were then sent home and mustered out with the 
regiment. 



^jii OHiO VOtUNl'fc.KK I^JfAIVTWV, 1/ 3 



c i± A. I* 1 tL. R it: I i r 



( ASU'ALllb:S l.\ hhlAll.. 



In Tiuiking up this reronl— ;i pari of the sacrifKe \v<f 
paid 10 suppress ihr Slave-holrlers' RchclHon — tlic Mus- 
:er out roils have been closely tbllowed. it is ver)' evident 
ihat they were In no means complete in this particular, 
except, i)erhaps, in liie case ot' two or three companies. 
Kver\' eftort has been made to get a complete list of our 
killed and wounded, and with what result tlie foliovving 
\vill testif)- : 

COMPANV A. 

Willlairi F. iiasom. First Sergeant, killed in action at 
VVc[i( he;:.ter Juue 13, i^^j, 

David 1). dV-rr\ , First Sergeant, Ivilled in actional 
Snicker's 'l^erry Jul\' 18. i864. 

Franklin Robinson, kiUetl in action at W'^inehe'^ter 
June 15% 1S63. 

tjeorge Smith, killed in a( lion at Mevviaarket Alay 15, 

Harvey Staiisberry, killed ia action at Snicker's Feriy 
July iS, 1864, 



J 74 12^1) OHIO VOl-UNTkKK JNKANTKVi 

Jederllah Scears, killed in action at Winriiester \\u\c 
15, 1863. 

James H. Boroff, First Sergeant, wounded in right leg 
at Pie<lrnote June 6, 1S64, and died afterwards. 

[ohn Went/, I'irsl Serj^eanl, w'OiUidrd in aim at VV'iii- 
iJiesler September 19, 1864. 

Tiiomas C. Thompson, Sergeant, wuuuded in tool at 
Fisher's Hill September 22, 1864. 

Joseph Roll, Sergeant, uoimded in leg ai \\ im hc-vlcr 
June 13, 1863. 

Benjamin M. Reynolds, Cori>oral, died from wounds 
received at Winchester June 13, 1863. 

William S. Rifenberry, Corporal, wounded accidenlaliy 
going home January j8, 1S65, and die«l atterwards. 

Daniel W. Nichols, Corporal, wounde*! in aim at 
Winchestei June 13, 1863. 

Adam be Baugh, wounded in leg at Hatcher's Run 
April 6, 1865, an<l had leg amputated afterwards. 

Robert L. Ewart wounded in action at Hatcher 'i; Run 
April J, 1S65. 

Albert Frost, wounded in action at Hatcher'^. Run 
April 2, 1S65. 

Albert Hunter, wounded in action at Nevvinarket May 
15, 1864. 

George P. Hoysington, wounded in leg at Winchester 
June 135 1863, and had leg amputated afterwards. 

Charles M Kmg; wounded m action at Winchester 
June 13; 1863. 



tS.^D OHIO VOUJNTKtCK LMKANlKV. I 75 

Hei^ry ?. King, wounded in uction at Winchester 
jane 13, 1863. 

George B. Smith, wounded in action at Newmarket 
.May 15, 1864. 

Edward (J. Jiates, wonndcd in leg al Winchester June 
15 1863, and had leg amputated afterwards. 

Henry M. Mc.Miller, uounded in foot at Winchester 
June 15, 1S63. 

John S. Anderson, wounded in leg at Snicker's Ferry 
July iS, 1864, had leg amputated aud died afterwards. 

Ambrose Ingcrson, died frurn wounds leceived at New- 
market May 15, 1S64. 

Keuhen W. Smith, woundc<l in hip at Winchester Scp- 
icniber 19, 1804, and died afiewards. 

Ja< ob (Jlinger. wounded in action at Newmarket May 
15,, 1864. 

Francis M. Karris, wounded in neck at Newmarket 
Aiay 15, i^6_|. 

Hiram Long, wounded in the breast nt Wiacheiler 
September 19, 1864. 

Levi Rickenbacli, Coiporal, svounded m ttie head at 
Winchester September 19, 1864, 

Jacob Switzer, wounded in the head at W'lnchester 
September 19, 1804. 

Samuel Dome, wounded at Cedar Creek October 19, 
1S64. 

John Davii, wounded in the head at Snicker's Ferry 
July i8; 1864. 



William Walters, wounded in knee at Winchester Sep- 
tember 19, 1864. 

COMPANY B. 

Lulcb L). Williams, first 'Lieutenant, killed in action ui 
Snicker'i Ferry July 18, 1S64. 

Elijahs. Conger, killed in action al Wini heeler Junr 

Leonard Keller, killed in uelion al Wiii< hester June 
13. 186J. 

bower W. Sehnebl) , killed in action al Snicker's 
Kerry, July 18, i86.i. 

Henry 'C. Stalts. killed in action al Wincheiiei 
|unc 13, 1S63. 

Benjaiiiin'H. SVilliaius. killed in action al Winchc.-slcr 
June 15. 1863. 

J. F. Randolph, Captain, wounded in action at Farms- 
ville April 6, 1S65. 

Ira D, VVelk, Sergeant, died tiom wound^. recei\cd at 
Hatcher'b Kun Murch 31, 1805. 

Charles 'Andrews, wounded in action at Hatcher'^j 
Run April 1 , 1865. 

John Hastings, wounded in action al Hatcher's Run 
April 2, 1865. 

Louis Rutherford, wounded in action at Snicker's 
Ferry July iS, 1864. 

Martin Stockmaster, wounded in action at Hatcher's 
Run Alarch 31, 1865. 



i2$b OklO VOUTNtKRK JNFANTRY. fjj 

William Slater, wounded in action at Hatcher's Run 
March 31, 1865. 

George Buskirk, Corporal, wounded in action at Win- 
chester June 13, 1863. 

Josiah R. Fisher, Corporal, wounded in action at 
Winchester June 13, 1863. 

Irving Cole, wounded in right arm at Winchester June 
13, 1863, and had arm amputated afterwards. 

George J. Frith, First Sergeant, died from wounds 
received at Winchester, June 15, 1863. 

Abisha W. Walter, Corporal, died from wounds re- 
ceived at Winchester June 13, 1863. 

Richard Evans., died from wound received at Win- 
chester June 13, 1863. 

Benjamin Holcomb, died from wounds received at Win- 
chester June 15, 1863. 

All)erl Nye, wounded at Winchester June 15, 1863. 
COMPANY C. 

Grry Decker, killed in action at Wincliester June 13, 
1863. 

Crary Green, killed in action May 31, 1S63. 

Silas Simpson, fell from box car on B. & O, Railroad 
and instantly killed, December 19, 1864. 

Joseph H. Rhodes, Corporal, wounded at Winchester 
September 19, 1864. 

Jacob Carson, wounded at Newmarket May 15, 1864. 

Samuel Miller, wounded at Berryville September 3, 
1864. 

t*i3] 



J 7^ 123b OHIO VOLUNTEER INFAN'TRV. 

Cliarles Mingree, wounded at Newmarket May 1$, 
1864; also, at Hatcher's Run March 31, 1865. 

George P. Moore, wounded at Farmville April 6, 1865. 

Simon Steel, wounded at Farmsville, April 6, 1865. 

Otis Sykes, leg amputated from wound received Win- 
chester September 19, 1864. 

Alonzo Lyn, died from wounds received at Winches- 
ter June 15, 1863. 

Louis White, died from wounds received at Snid;er's 
Ferry July 18, 1864. 

COMPANY D. 

Phillip Wall, Sergeant, killed in action at Newmarket 
May 15, 1864. 

James Hartzell, killed in action at Winchester Sep- 
tember 19, 1864. 

Granville R. Haines, killed in action at Winchester 
September 19, 1864. 

Samuel A. Harris, killed in action at Winchester Sep 
tember 19, 1S64. 

Charles C. Roberts, killed in action at Hatclier's Run 
March 31, 1865. 

Henry Reynolds, killed in action at Newmarket May 
15, 1864. 

William H. Suyder, killed in action at Newmarket 
May 15, 1864. 

Peter Swartz, killed in action at Faimvillc April 6, 
1865. 



12 JD OrtiO VOLtJNtEER iJJt'ANTRY. 179 

Henry Weller, killed in action at Winchester Septem- 
ber 19. 1 864. 

F. K. Shawhan, Captain, wounded in the thigh at 
Winchester September 19, 1864. 

i:)avid Miller, Second Lieutenant, wounded in the 
right breast at Newmarket May 15, 1864. 

James C. Leahy, First Sergeant, wounded in the right 
hip at Newmarket May 15, 1864. 

Samuel Martin, Sergeant, wounded in the wrist at 
Winchester September 19, 1864. 

Francis M. Hart, Sergeant, wounded in the riglii arm 
at Snicker's Ferry, July 18, 1864. 

John A. Heckman, Corporal, died from wounds re- 
ceived at Hatcher's run, March 31, 1865. 

Henry H. Pennington, Corporal, wounded in the 
thigh at Winchester September 19, 1864. 

Levi Keller, Corporal, wounded in the thigh at Win- 
chester September 19, 1864. 

John T Baker, wounded at Newmarket May 15, 1864, 
Selden M. Beard, wounded at Newmarkei May 15, 
David B. Bowersox, wounded at Newmarket May 15, 

1864. 
William Crossley, wounded at Newmarket May 15, 

1864 ; also at Hatcher's Run March 31, 1865. 

Peter Carrigan, wounded at Newmarket May 15, 1864. 
James H. Davidson, wounded at Newmarket May 15, 

1864. 



iga il.^n OHIO VOttTNtRKR INfAXtKY. 

David Hague, wounded at Cedar Creek October icj, 
1864. 

Alexander li. Lett, right arm amputated from wound 
received at Hatcher's Run March 31, 1865. 

William Locust, wounded at Hatcher's Run March 31, 
1865. 

Gideon Martin, wounded at Newmarket May 15, 1864. 

Joseph Meyers, woimded in the tliigh at Winche>:ter 
September 19, 1S64. 

Frederick Wagoner, wounded at Newmarket May 15, 
1864. 

Joim Wert/., wounded at Hatcher's Run .\farc h 31, 
1865. 

Hiram Root, Sergeant, died from wounds received at 
Hatcher's Run March 31, 1865. 

I^eander Coe, Corporal, died from wounds received at 
Newmarket May 15, 1864. 

Seth R. Gambee, died from wounds received at New- 
market May 15, 1864. 

Samuel M. Gilbert, died from wounds received at 
Newmarket May 15, 1864. 

Benjamin L. Hoover, flied from wounds recei\ed at^ 
Newmarket May 15, 1864. 

Oscar R. Torrey, died from wounds received at New- 
market May 15, 1864. 

William Hoover, wounded in the foot at Hatcher's 
Run March 31, 1865. 

James Kenan, wounded at Newmarket May 15, 1864. 



T 2 3I> OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, igl 

Chancey Labountyj wounded at Newmarket May 15, 
1864. 

Andrew J. Leitner, wounded in the hand at Winches- 
ter September 19, 1864. 

David C. Mowen, right arm amputated from a wound 
received at NeAvmarket Market May 15, 1864. 

Daniel Rhodes, wounded in the shoulder at Wmches- 
ter September 19, 1864. 

Albert Rurnmell, wounded at Cedar Creek, October 
ig, 1864. 

John Whealan, left leg amputated from an accidental 
shot. 

Osro R. Beard, died from wounds received at New- 
m.arket May 15, 1864. 

Daniel Reemc, Corporal, Avounded in the knee at 
Winchester September 19, 1864. 

Samuel Harris, died from wound in the hand and bow- 
els received at Winchester September 19, 1864. 

Peter Croosley, wounded in the head at Winchester 
September 19, 1864. 

COMPANY E. 

Stephen Casner, killed in action at Cedar Creek Octo- 
ber 16, 1864. 

Lafayette Dunn, killed in action at Snicker's Ferry 
July 18, 1864. 

Jacob Dorn, killed in action at Winchester June 15, 
1864. 



t82 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Charles Bogle, killed in action at Winchester June 13, 
1863. 

Warren Cunningham, wounded at Hatcher's Run 
March 31, 1865. 

Henry Gibson, wounded in both legs at AVn,ichester 
September 19, 1864. 

Lorenzo Sweetland, wounded September 15, 1863. 

Newell B Salisbury, Sergeant, died from a wound re- 
ceived in the left leg at Berryville September 3, 1864. 

Calvin Duni., died from wounds received in the hip at 
Berryville September 3, 1863. 

Hamilton Dennison, died from wounds received at 
Winchester June 15, 1863. 

Nathan W. Henderson, died from wounds received in 
the leg and wrist at VV^inchester September 19, 1864. 

Peter Lettz, wounded in the shoulder at Berryville 
September 3, 1864. 

Frederick Shatter, wounded in leg at Berry ville Septem- 
ber 3, 1864. 

Isaac Odell, Corporal, wounded in hand at Winches- 
ter September 19, 1864. 

Eleazer Johns, wounded in hip at Winchester Sep- 
tember 19, 3864. 

COMPANY F. 

Samuel Dunn, Sergeant, killed in action at Lynch- 
burg June iS, 1864. 

David Gilbreath, Corporal, killed inaction at Win- 
chester June 15, 1863. 



12^1) OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 183 

John H. Swinehart, killed in action at Winchester 
June T5, 1863. 

Edwin R. Holly, killed at Winchester June 15, 1865. 

Cyrus H. Kiehl, killed at Lynchburg June 18, 1864. 

Will Maurice, killed at Winchester September 19,1864. 

Savage McDonald, killed at Lynchburg June 18, 1864. 

M. W. Willoughby, Second Lieutenant, wounded in 
upper part of leg at Snicker's Ferry July 18, 1864, 

Simon Hoffman, wounded in left ankle at Lynchluirg 
June 1 8, T864. 

David Bovvsher, wounded in the back at L.ynchburg 
June 1 8, 1864. 

John H. Miller, wounded in arm at L,ynchburg June 
18, 1864. 

Peter Atwater, wounded in leg at Lynchburg June iS, 
1864. 

William Spencer, wounded in the head at Lynchburg 
Jnne 18, 1864. 

Thomas Clark, wounded in the breast at Lynchburg 
June 18, 1864. 

AVilliam H. Hefiflebower, wounded in the left hip at 
Snicker's Ferry July 18, 1864. 

Samuel A. Pugh, wounded in hand at Snicker's Ferry 
July 18, 1864. 

Jacob H. Miller, Corporal, wounded in thigh at Win- 
chester September 19, 1864. 

Eli Maskey, Corporal, wounded in the head at Win- 
chester September 19, 1864. 



t84 T23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Lafayette I.ee. wounded in leg at Winchester Septem- 
ber 19, 1864. 

Joel Ekleberry, wounded in thigh at Winchester Sep- 
tember 19, 1864. 

George Mackey, wounded in the face at Winchester 
September 19, 1864. 

Levi Woodling, wounded in leg at Fisher's Hill Sep- 
tember 22, 1864. 

COMPANY G. 

William Gillard, Corporal, killed in action at Winches- 
ter June 18, 1863. 

Theodore Ocks, killed m action at Hatcher's Run 
March 31, 1865. 

Albert Ott, killed m action at Snicker's Ferry July iS, 
1864. 

Richard Martin, killed in action at Winchester June 
15, 1863. 

Sherman A Johnson, Second Lieutenant, wounded in 
left breast at Winchester September 19, 1864. 

Myron E. Clemens, Sergeant, wounded in the head 
and shoulder at Hatcher's Run March 31, 1865. 

Richard H. Timanus, Corporal, wounded in action at 
Cedar Creek October 19, 1864. 

William P. Wheeler, Corporal, wounded in the neck 
at Winchester September 19, 1864. 

Luther Barnard, wounded in hip at Winchester Sep- 
tember 19, 1864. 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 1 85 

William Kelly, wounded in foot at Winchester Septem- 
ber 19, 1864. 

Milo H. Wager, wounded in action at Hatcher's Run 
March 31, 1865. 

Alfred C. Vantine, Corporal, wounded in arm at 
Fisher's Hill September 22, 1864. 

Charles Brumm, wounded in action at NeAvmarket 
May 15, 1864. 

Conrad Rhoda, wounded in action at Winchester 
June 13, 1863. 

Jacob Detlefs, died from wounds received at Hatch- 
er's Run March 31, 1865. 

Henry D. Johnson, died from wounds received at 
Winchester June 15, 1863. 

James Reed, died from wounds received at Newmarket 
May 15, 1864. 

George Stokely, wounded in arm at Lynchburg June 
18, 1864. 

Foster Neill, wounded in hand at Jkrrysville Septem- 
ber 3, 1864. 

A. C. Garret, Color Sergeant, wounded in foot at Win- 
chester September 19, 1864. 

Henry C. Bernard, wounded in the neck at Winches- 
ter September 19, 1864. 

George B. Drake, Corporal, wounded in hip at New- 
market May 15, 1864. 

Charles G. Knight, wounded in hand at Winchester 
June 13, 1863. 



l86 r23D OHIO VOLUNTEF.R INFANTRY. 

AVilliam H. Levering, wounded in leg near Strasburg 
October, 1864. 

William Morgan, wounded in action at Winchester 
June 15, 1863. 

Oeorge^Shesiey, wounded in action at VVmchester 
June 14, 1863. 

Charles Brumru, wounded in action at Winchester 
June 15, T863. 

Joseph Morrow, wounded in action at Winchester June 
15, 1863. 

Richard Howe, wounded in action at Opequan Sep- 
tember 19, 1864. 

COMPANY H. 

Charles F. Harriger, killed in action at Winchester 
June 13, T863. 

Larry Lynch, wounded in action at Winchester June 
15, 1863. 

Joseph Price, died from wounds received in action. 

George Shaffer, wounded in leg and arm at Berry 
ville September 3, 1864. 

Clement Medary, Corporal, died from wounds re- 
ceived at Winchester June 15, 1863. 

Frank P. Andrews, died from wounds received at 
Winchester September 19, 1S64. 

David Betts, died from wounds received at Newmar- 
ket May 15, 1864. 

George Dever, died from wounds received in action. 



I 2 3D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. I 87 

Joshua Gundrum, died from wounds received inaction. 

Peter Holman, died from wounds received in arm and 
neck at Berry ville September 3, 1864. 

John C. Myers, died from wounds received m action. 

George Merrick, died from wounds received at New- 
market May 15, 1864. 

Hosea Richards, died from wounds received at New- 
market May 15, 1864. 

John Q. Crippen, wounded in hand at Berryville Sep- 
tember 3, 1864. 

William Beck, wounded in hand at Berryville Septem- 
ber 3, 1864. 

Lewis Ranck, wounded in leg and arm at Berryville 
September 3, r864. 

George W. Eyestone, wounded in hand at Fisher's 
Hill September 22, 1864. 

COMPANY I. 

Abraham W. Brinkly, Sergeant, killed in action at 
Berryville September 3, 1864. 

Isaac L. Fink, Corporal, killed in action at Snicker's 
Ferry July 18, 1864. 

William Deary, killed in action at Winchester June 
13, 1863. 

William H.^Fox, killed in action at Winchester June 

15, 1863. 
Eli Michiner, killed in action at Winchester June 15, 

1863. 



l88 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

William H. Bender, Captain, wounded in the leg at 

Winchester June 15, 1863, and died in prison. 

George D. Acker, Second Lieutenant, wounded in the 

shoulder al Winchester June 15, 1863. 

William Bartholomew, Sergeant, wounded at Fannsville 
April 6^ 1865. 

Adoniram Alley, wounded at Hatcher's Run March 31, 
1865. 

William Bardett, wounded at Hatcher's Run March 
31, 1865. 

David Bardett, wounded at Hatcher's Run March 31, 
1865. 

Jefferson Kooken, wounded in the head at Winchester 
Septem.ber 19, 1864. 

Owen H. Laney, wounded at Cedar Creek 0« tobei 
19, 1864. 

Joseph Sidell, wounded at FarmsviUe April 6, 1865. 

Martin W. Michiner, Corporal, died from a wound re- 
reived in the hip at Berryville September 3, 1864. 

George W. Adams, died from wounds received at 
Winchester June 13, 1863. 

Henry Ebersole, died from wounds received at Win- 
chester June 15, 1863. 

William B. Henry, died. from wounds received at Win- 
chester June 15, 1863. 

John H. Meyers, died from wounds received at Win- 
chester June 13, 1863. 



12^V OHIO VOLUNTEER !KFA?JTRY. xBo 

Thomas H. McKee, died from wounds received at 
Winchester June 15, 1863. 

Jacob Ebright, Corporal, wounded in the breast at 
Berry ville, September 3, 1864. 

John Wickard, wounded in the shoulder at Winchester 
September 19, 1864. 

John Updyke. wounded in the arm at Winchester 
September 19, 1S64. 

COMPANV K. 

Samuel I). Poppleton, Sergeant, killed in action at 
Berryville September 3, 1864. 

Andrew Donahoe, killed in actiou at Hatcher's Run 
March 31. 1865. 

William Frey, Sergeant, leg amputated from wound re- 
(civetl at Hatcher's Run March 31, 1865. 

John Grant, Corporal, wounded in the head at Berry- 
ville, September 3, 1864. 

Anton Rock, wounded at Hatcher's Run March 31, 
1865. 

Bruno Schmidt, wounded in the thigh at Berryville 
September 3, 1864, 

Hiram (Jtley, wounded in the hand at Winchester 
June 15, 1863. 

Isaac Nutter, arm amputated from wound received at 
Winchester, June 13, 1863. 

Albert W. Rhone, leg amputated from wound received 
Jit Winchester June 13, 1863. 



100 t23t) OHIO V^OLWTfeER INFANtRV. 

Joseph Goodsell, Sergeant, died from wounds received 
at Berryville September 3, 18O4. 

John Robinson, leg amputated from wound received 
at Berryville September 3, 1864, and afterwards died 

Jacob Wolf Sergeant, wounded in the leg at Fisher's 
Hill, September 22, 1864. 

Martin J. Gase, Corporal, wounded in the arm at 
Fisher's Hill September 22, 1864. 

FIELD AND STAFF. 

Horace Kellogg, Lieutenant-Colonel, wounded in fool 
at Winchester June 15, 1863. 

W. B. Hyatt, Surgeon, wounded in action at Win- 
chester June 15, 1863. 



t33t) OKiO VOLEVtEER INERNTRV. tgi 



CM Ar» r h:yi xi v. 



THE ESCAPE OF OFFICERS FROM PRISONS AND A BRIEF AC) 
COUNT OF I'HOSE WHO DIED THERE. 



CONCLUSION. 

In the Sprino; of 1864 the most of our officers who 
were tlien in prison where changed to various prisons 
thronghout the Soutli, some of them making the entire 
circuit of Libby, Kaleigh, Macon, Savannah, Charleston 
and Cohnnbia. 

Two officers escaped by means of the '^streight tun- 
nel," and Col. Wilson, Lieut. Col. Hunter, Capt. Cham- 
berlin, and two or three others were exchanged and sent 
North, and, soon after, joined the regiment ; while the 
greater portion of the remainder made their escape froui 
some of the above named prisons and at different times. 
All of them, in fact, save Lieut. M. H. Smith, who was 
released by Gen. Sherman, on his celebrated march to 
the Sea, and Captains Riggs and Bender, who died there 



193 tajD OHIO vowiirtm infantry. 

from cruel treatment. And, in-as-mucli as the escapes 
were all very similar, it will be necessary only to re- 
count a few ot them. 

Captain Randolph escaped from Columbia, South 
Carolina, during the Summer of '64; by floating down 
the Santee river on a flat-boat, with several others, and, 
after a voyage of nearly one month, reached our fleet — 
blockading its mouth. On the trip they passed under 
several railroad bridges guarded by soldiers, the sentinels 
l)eing in plain sight. Their plan was to float down the 
river at night, using long '-sweeps" to force the boat 
through the water. As soon as daylight came, tiiey 
would lay by for the day, secreting their boat, as best 
they could, among willows, or brush of some descrip- 
tion. As a matter of course, they foraged for their ra- 
tions, or had colored men to do it for them. Sweet po- 
tatoes were in abundance ; and, witli young chickens, or 
a pig from a neighboring farmyard, a very fair meal 
could be gotten up. 

On the 3d of November Lieutenants Colver and 
Boyce, observing that the guards were very slack in 
watching the prisoners who were permitted to go to a 
wood near by for fuel, thought that the time had come 
to attempt their escape ; so they, in company with an- 
other officer, resolved to try it. Getting all ready, they 
walked out — as though they had given their parole — and 
kept right on to the woods, and, as soon as they were 
under cover, secreted themselves until after dark, when. 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTELK INFANTRY. 1 93 

taking the North Star as their guide, they struck_oiit for 
East Tennssee — distant about four hundred miles. Af- 
ter having traveled six days, they suddenly came upon 
some Rebel cavalry ; and, while the other two were par- 
lymg with them, Lieu:. Colver made off through the 
woods and escaped. He then had three hundred miles 
to travel alone, but, by the never-failing aid of the ne- 
gro, he, after travelmg thirty days — or rather nights- 
reached our lines at Charleston, East Tennessee, and 
was soon at home in Ohio. 

November iGih, '64, Capt. Roseabaum and Lieut. T. 
W. Boyce made their escape from Columbia in the same 
manner that Lieut. Boyce did the time he started out 
with Lieut. Colver, and their journeyings were of a simi- 
lar character. Lieut. Boyce, who had been over the 
ground part of the way once before, knew about the 
direction to take. They made East Tennessee their objec- 
tive point. It was in the dead of winter, and the ground was 
covered with sleet and snow for the most of the way, mak- 
ing very bad walking, besides not contributing greatly to the 
comfort of sleeping out of doors. However, after many 
narrow escapes and almost superhuman exertions, they 
arrived in our lines in safety — though pretty nearly worn 
oat— on the 26th of December, having been just one 
month on the trip. 

Capt. William H. Bender, of Company I was wounded 
at Winchester, June 15th, '63, and taken to Richmond, 
remaining there until May 7th, '64. From there he was 



194 

taken to Macon, Georgia, thence to Savannah, where he- 
was taken down with fever. He recovered, somewhat, 
and was then taken to Charleston and placed under 
''fire" in the city jail yard. ' On September 4th he was 
sent to Columbia, where he was taken down with "-yel- 
low fever." Receiving no medical aid for twenty-four 
hours after being taken sick, he died on tl\e morning of 
the 8th, a victim of Southern cruelty and neglect. He 
was a good soldier, a gallant officer, and a gentleman 
always. 

Capt. Charles H. Riggs was born at Tiffin, Ohio, in 
1835. He was, therefore, at the time of his enlistment, 
twenty-seven \'ears of age. He was agent of the Cleve- 
land and Toledo railroad at Sandusky, a position which 
he filled well and ably, being well liked h) the entire 
community and highly esteemed by the men of the road. 
Thus, young, loved and prosperous, he left with his com- 
mand for the seat of war, alas ! never to return. Always 
deporting himself as a true soldier and Christian gentle- 
man, he possessed the esteem of his men and the confi- 
dence of his superior officers. Cool and brave in the 
hour of danger, he had none of the bravado spirit, that 
courts battle in the quiet camp, or anticipates brave 
deeds to be accomplished. He was taken prisoner with 
his command at Winchester, June 15th, iSoj. 
Not of a sanguine temperament, he seemed to think 
from the very first that he never again would behold the 
free North or the faces of dear ones at hr»me — which \m- 



I23D OHIO VOLUNTEJ^R IM-ANIRV. if)^ 

Iniappy sentiment of course little fitted liim to bear up 
-inder the hardships, privations and diseases incident to ii 
^rLsoner of war. Early attacked with a chronic com- 
plaint — from which he never seemed to rally — after long 
months of suffering, he breathed his brave, young life 
away on the 15th day of September, 1864, in the hos- 
pital at Charleston, amid the thunderings of cannon 
hurling missils of destruction upon the doomed city, 
where first the flag of treason was flung insultingly to the 
breeze. Many a heart was made sad in the regiment at 
the nevv's of his death ; it seemed as though a brother 
liaxi been taken from us. Groups of men upon the 
company street could be seen moving listlessly along, 
Salking over the sad intelligence. AV'hat then must have 
"been the sorrow of his family at home ? Poor, stricken 
anes, our hearts bled for you then as we sympathize with 
you now. A dutiful son, a loving brother, a brave sol- 
4.ier, and a true friend — well may be said of him : 

•"'Green be the turf above thee, friend of my better days, 
None knew thee but to love thee, nor named thee but to praise-" 

Many more events and episodes of deepest interest to 
ms; might be narrated, did space permit. Of the tire- 
some marches, the sleepless nights, and the lonely picket 
fosts, in the dead of winter, no pen can fittingly the 
%tQTy relate. No ! Only in }-our meetings can you 
e^.'Tjn faintly outline the unwritten history of your soidier 



196 I23D OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

lives. The sufferings, the danger, and the privations so 
patiently born, you yourselves can only know. 

By these memories so holy, by our brave ones gone^ 
by the defeats sustained, and victories gloriously won^ 
let us hope that the Union, which it was our fortunes to 
help sustain and preserve, may remain unbroken forever. 



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